Robinson R-22 BETA N169CW

Summary

On 14 July 2000 at about 16:45 local time, a Robinson R-22 BETA registered N169CW, operated by Group Three Aviation, was involved in an accident near Lake Piru, California, 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

14 July 2000 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Lake Piru, California, United States

Coordinates

34.1904, -118.4898

Aircraft

Robinson R-22 BETA

Registration

N169CW

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Group Three Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Van Nuys → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX00LA262

Nobody was injured.

The improper use of the cyclic control by the pilot under instruction, and the flight instructor's lack of remedial action.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor and the commercial pilot were practicing autorotations in preparation for a flight instructor check ride by the commercial pilot. The instructor said they were practicing full touchdown autorotations and on the first attempt, the commercial pilot had placed the cyclic too far forward. On the second attempt, the commercial pilot placed the cyclic too far back causing the main rotor blade to come into contact with the tailboom assembly.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.