Robinson R22B N227GH

Summary

On 11 September 2008 at about 23:20 local time, a Robinson R22B registered N227GH, operated by Guidance Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Prescott, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

11 September 2008 at 23:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Prescott, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Ernest A. Love Field Airport (PRC)

Coordinates

34.6528, -112.4183

Aircraft

Robinson R22B

Registration

N227GH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Guidance Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Prescott → Prescott

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX08CA298

2 people had minor injuries.

The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm and the instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A certified flight instructor (CFI) and a student were practicing 180-degree autorotations. While turning final, the airspeed decayed and the student responded by pushing forward on the cyclic. The main rotor rpm dropped to 95 percent as the helicopter was descending. The instructor added throttle but was unable to arrest the descent rate or to recover the main rotor rpm. The right front skid contacted the ground, then the rotor struck the tail boom. The helicopter entered a right spin, drifted to the left, and rolled over. The pilots reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.