Robinson R22B N193HC
16 January 1994 · Gurabo · No injuries
Summary
On 16 January 1994 at about 02:20 local time, a Robinson R22B registered N193HC was involved in an accident near Gurabo. One person was 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.
The record
- Date
- at 02:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Gurabo
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22B
- Registration
- N193HC
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → San Juan
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- MIA94LA054
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
COMPLETE SEPARATION OF ONE OF THE TWO VEE-BELTS, AND COMPLETE SEPARATION OF 1/2 OF THE REMAINING BELT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DARK NIGHT CONDITION AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE AUTOROTATIVE LANDING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING CRUISE FLIGHT DURING A DARK NIGHT OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AT 1,800 FEET MSL, THE CLUTCH LIGHT FLICKERED MOMENTARILY THEN REMAINED ILLUMINATED. HE WAITED FOR 5 SECONDS THEN PULLED THE CLUTCH CIRCUIT BREAKER AND INITIATED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT FOR A FORCED LANDING. WHEN THE FLIGHT WAS ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL) THE PILOT INITIATED THE CYCLIC FLARE. THEN WHEN THE FLIGHT WAS ABOUT 10 FEET AGL, HE PULLED COLLECTIVE CONTROL BUT THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE TWO VEE- BELTS HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED AND 1/2 OF THE REMAINING BELT HAD ALSO COMPLETELY SEPARATED. REVIEW OF THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE TENSION OF THE BELTS WAS CHECKED ABOUT 42 HOURS BEFORE. THE VEE-BELTS WERE INSTALLED WHEN THE HELICOPTER WAS MANUFACTURED ABOUT 442 HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R22B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Mar 1994 | Robinson R22B | Long Beach, California, United States | Everything Flyable, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jul 1993 | Robinson R22B | Weimar, California, United States | J. D. Helicopters | Fatal | 2 |
| 19 Feb 1993 | Robinson R22B | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Prestige Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 4 |
| 23 Jan 1993 | Robinson R22B | Palomar Mtn, California, United States | Civic Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 14 Apr 1993 | Robinson R22B | Ronkonkoma, New York, United States | Eastern Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 27 Apr 1993 | Robinson R22B | Murraysville, Pennsylvania, United States | Airburst Helicopters | Minor injuries | - |