Robinson R-22B N2549R

Summary

On 16 September 2002 at about 19:40 local time, a Robinson R-22B registered N2549R, operated by Advanced Helicopter Concepts, Inc., was involved in an accident near Frederick, Maryland, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 September 2002 at 19:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Frederick, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK)

Coordinates

39.4167, -77.3750

Aircraft

Robinson R-22B

Registration

N2549R

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Advanced Helicopter Concepts, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Frederick → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC02LA191

1 person had minor injuries.

The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. A factor was the manufacturer's inadequate written guidance regarding simulated engine failures during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the dual instructional flight, the student pilot was practicing maneuvers in preparation for his helicopter private pilot checkride. The flight instructor briefed a "simulated engine out during takeoff," which the student pilot had not previously performed. The helicopter took off with the student pilot at the controls. About 100 feet and 60-65 knots, the flight instructor advised him that he had a simulated engine failure. The student pilot lowered the collective and rolled off the throttle. He then applied "slight aft cyclic," and raised the collective to slow the descent. The flight instructor attempted to lower the collective while the student pilot continued to raise it. The main rotor rpm deteriorated and the helicopter touched down hard. The main rotor blades flexed, and chopped off the tailboom. The helicopter's height-velocity parameters approximated the "recommended takeoff profile" when the simulated engine failure was initiated. The helicopter manufacturer had written guidelines regarding simulated engine failures, but no written guidance regarding simulated engine failures during takeoff. According to a company representative, the manufacturer taught flight instructors to avoid exposing even high time pilots to simulated power failures during takeoff, since the high power setting could cause a high rotor rpm decay rate.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.