Robinson R22 BETA N8045K

Summary

On 21 February 2002 at about 21:30 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N8045K, operated by Universal Air Academy, was involved in an accident near Glendora, 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

21 February 2002 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Glendora, California, United States

Coordinates

34.1728, -117.8511

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N8045K

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Universal Air Academy

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

El Monte → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX02FA088

Nobody was injured.

The student's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision. Contributing factors were the high helicopter gross weight and density altitude, and the descending mountainous terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter rolled over following an autorotative landing on a sloped mountain side. According to the pilot's statements, during the flight, the student had failed to maintain adequate main rotor rpm while orbiting a mountain peak, and the helicopter entered a descent. The student relinquished the controls to the certified flight instructor (CFI); however, he was unsuccessful at restoring the requisite rpm, so he autorotated to a landing downsloping mountainous terrain. Thereafter, the helicopter rolled over. Neither pilot reported having heard the low rotor rpm warning horn, observed illumination of any annunciator light, or felt any unusual vibration. During the subsequent wreckage examination, the low rotor rpm warning systems were found functional. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction was found with the airframe or drive system. The engine was run up to full power, and no malfunctions were noted. During the accident flight, the helicopter was operating near its maximum certificated gross weight and under a high density altitude (over 4,300 feet) condition.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.