Robinson R22 BETA N8340S

Summary

On 27 July 2009 at about 15:50 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N8340S, operated by Hillsboro Avaition Inc, was involved in an accident near Troutdale, Oregon, 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

27 July 2009 at 15:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Troutdale, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Portland-Troutdale (KTTD)

Coordinates

45.5492, -122.4011

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N8340S

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Hillsboro Avaition Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Troutdale → Troutdale

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR09CA377

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot's improper use of the collective control and the flight instructor’s delayed reaction to the student pilot’s incorrect control inputs.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that he was conducting a lesson on autorotation landings. After completing several autorotations with the student pilot, the flight instructor demonstrated three autorotation landings from a hover. On the student’s first attempt at the maneuver, the instructor reported that the student lowered the collective control instead of raising it. The flight instructor took control of the helicopter and applied up collective to help slow the descent rate. The helicopter began to yaw to the left. The helicopter landed on its left rear skid and bounced as it began to roll to the left. The instructor applied full right cyclic control to level the helicopter before touching back down on both skids. The bounced landing resulted in structural damage to the lower frame of the helicopter. The flight instructor reported no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter and associated flight control systems. The flight instructor stated that he anticipated that the student may apply down collective; however, his reaction time was not enough to counter the student’s control inputs.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.