Robinson R22 N72377

Summary

On 28 March 2010 at about 16:15 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N72377, operated by Helicopter Academy, was involved in an accident near Miami, Florida, 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

28 March 2010 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Miami, Florida, United States

Coordinates

25.7786, -80.0811

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N72377

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Helicopter Academy

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hollywood → Hollywood

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10LA190

Nobody was injured.

A loss of main rotor rpm for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and his passenger were flying about 2 miles offshore. The helicopter had just completed a turn at about 100 feet above the water when the low main rotor rpm horn sounded. When an adjustment of the throttle failed to remedy the situation, the CFI entered an autorotation. The tail of the helicopter stuck the water during the flare, which resulted in the helicopter entering an uncontrollable spin. The helicopter immediately sank and at the time of this writing, has not been located or recovered. The helicopter’s flight manual showed that at the time of the accident, the flight was being operated within a region of performance in the height-velocity diagram that the manufacturer recommended avoiding. A review of the helicopter’s maintenance records did not reveal any discrepancies with the helicopter prior to the accident flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.