Robinson R22 BETA N7197W

Summary

On 3 September 2011 at about 18:30 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N7197W, operated by Razor Blades Helicopter Inc., was involved in an accident near St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and one 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

3 September 2011 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

St. Petersburg, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

St. Petersburg/Clearwater Int (PIE)

Coordinates

27.9061, -82.6856

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N7197W

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Razor Blades Helicopter Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

St. Petersburg → St. Petersburg

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11LA481

1 person had minor injuries.

The commercial pilot's improper recovery from a practice autorotation, resulting in a tailboom strike and subsequent rollover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the commercial pilot, he was receiving a checkride to become a flight instructor. During a full stop autorotation practice, as the pilot began a slow flare to slow the helicopter, the helicopter ballooned, he lost control of the helicopter, and it pitched up to the left. During an attempt to regain control of the helicopter, the tailboom struck the ground, and the helicopter rolled over. According to the designated pilot examiner giving the checkride, it was the commercial pilot's third checkride attempt. The pilot's previous checkrides resulted in an unsatisfactory performance and termination of the evaluation due to the pilot’s slow reaction times.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.