Robinson R22 N231TM

Summary

On 1 November 2012 at about 20:46 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N231TM, operated by Helicopter Academy, was involved in an accident near Alexander City, Alabama, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 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

1 November 2012 at 20:46

Classification

Accident

Location

Alexander City, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Thomas C. Russel Field Airport (ALX)

Coordinates

32.9089, -85.9578

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N231TM

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Helicopter Academy

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Alexander City → Dawson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA13LA045

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s delayed decision to initiate an autorotation and her subsequent improper conduct of the autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing, after the helicopter started vibrating for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examinations revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After departure, the helicopter began to vibrate at an altitude of about 300 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot chose to return to the airport to perform a precautionary landing. The pilot initiated an autorotation about 100 feet agl at an airspeed of between 45 to 50 knots but could not control the helicopter. The pilot applied aft cyclic to flare the helicopter; however, it did not lose airspeed. The low rotor rpm aural warning activated during the maneuver, and the helicopter subsequently landed hard and rolled over on its right side. Postaccident examinations of the engine and airframe did not reveal any anomalies that would have caused the vibration the helicopter experienced after takeoff. If the pilot had initiated the autorotation sooner, she may have had adequate airspeed to establish the glide and a sufficient amount of rotor rpm to cushion the landing and retain positive control of the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.