Robinson R22B N900AB

Summary

On 4 October 1991 at about 00:45 local time, a Robinson R22B registered N900AB, operated by Makani Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 October 1991 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Robinson R22B

Registration

N900AB

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Makani Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX92LA005

Nobody was injured.

THE IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ND THE FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ROTOR RPM.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS FROM BOTH THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT, THE FLIGHT WAS PRACTICING PINNACLE APPROACHES IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID HE PERFORMED A HIGH RECONNAISSANCE OF THE SPOT, AND THEN THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED A DOWN DRAFT DURING THE FINAL APPROACH TO THE PEAK. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID HE PERFORMED A RIGHT PEDDLE TURN TO FLY DOWN THE SLOPE OVER A STREAM. THE LOW ROTOR HORN CAME ON AND THE INSTRUCTOR SAID HE ATTEMPTED TO GET THE ROTOR RPM BACK INTO THE GREEN ARC BUT BEFORE HIS CONTROL INPUTS WERE EFFECTIVE THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE COLLIDED WITH TREES ON THE STREAM BANK AND THE HELICOPTER CRASHED INTO THE WATER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.