Robinson R22 BETA N234LA

Summary

On 6 February 2009 at about 16:33 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N234LA, operated by Helicopter Services Inc, was involved in an accident near Cypress, Texas, 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

6 February 2009 at 16:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Cypress, Texas, United States

Coordinates

30.0858, -95.5992

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N234LA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Helicopter Services Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tomball → Tomball

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09CA157

Nobody was injured.

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

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While performing a 180-degree autorotation, the student pilot raised the collective in order to maintain the helicopter's rpms within normal parameters. At approximately 250 feet above ground level, the rotor rpm was allowed to decay to 95% at which time the helicopter began to sink. The lowest observed rpm was 85%. The certified flight instructor took control of the helicopter could not recover the helicopter prior to an impact with terrain. The helicopter landed hard and rolled onto its left side. Substantial crushing damage was sustained to the fuselage. Winds at the time of the accident were 190 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 30 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.