Robinson R22 N2306T

Summary

On 21 June 2009 at about 05:20 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N2306T, operated by Airmen Testing and Training, Inc, was involved in an accident near Del Ray Beach, Florida, 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

21 June 2009 at 05:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Del Ray Beach, Florida, United States

Coordinates

26.3458, -80.1167

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N2306T

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Airmen Testing and Training, Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lantana → Miami

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

ERA09LA360

2 people had minor injuries.

An in-flight failure of the main drive vee belts.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), they were at 3000 feet with an airspeed of 65 -70 knots when he felt a low frequency vibration throughout the helicopter. He described the vibration as being a lateral vibration as if coming from the tailrotor. He did not remember feeling the vibration in the pedal or cyclic, but more of an overall vibration. According to the student pilot, during a change in cruise altitude from 3,500 feet mean sea level (MSL) to 4,000 msl, they felt an airframe vibration. The vibration increased in intensity to a point where they could not read the instrument panel and they both observed the rotor brake light and clutch light illuminate. The CFI took control of the helicopter and initiated an emergency autorotation. Examination of both main drive vee belts showed they were off their pulleys. The forward vee belt left black residue on the front side of the pulley and shaft. The rear vee belt was broken in two and also had breaks in the center between the two V sections. Other than the breaks, the belts had no evidence of deterioration. There was no indication that the belts had visible damaged prior to the flight. A review of the helicopters logbooks found no entries as to when the belts were last changed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.