Robinson R44 N5511L

Summary

On 13 February 2012 at about 17:00 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N5511L, operated by Charleston Helicopters, was involved in an accident near N. Charleston, South Carolina, 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

13 February 2012 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

N. Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Coordinates

32.8767, -79.9589

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N5511L

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Charleston Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

N. Charleston → N. Charleston

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12CA179

Nobody was injured.

The flight instructor’s failure to apply power during a practice autorotation in order to arrest a high rate of descent, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that, after takeoff, the student pilot practiced hovering maneuvers then practiced a straight-in autorotation with a planned power recovery. The student pilot initiated the autorotation between 300 and 400 feet above the ground with a 5- to 6-knot tailwind. During the descent, the helicopter descended faster than anticipated, and, although the student pilot initiated a flare to arrest the descent, by that point, the helicopter was too low and still descending too fast. Just before the skids hit a mound of dirt and rock that was about 6- to 8-feet tall, the CFI took the controls but was unable to arrest the descent. The CFI did not apply power but attempted to back off the mound and turn around. Because the engine was at idle power and the rotor rpm was decreasing, the helicopter spun and came to rest on its left side. The CFI reported that there was no preimpact mechanic failure or malfunction. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and also to the right side of the helicopter in the area of the right aft skid.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.