Robinson R22 BETA N290SH

Summary

On 15 March 2012 at about 23:45 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N290SH, operated by Sirius Flying LLC, was involved in an accident near Palo Alto, California, United States. One person was 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

15 March 2012 at 23:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Palo Alto, California, United States

Nearest airport

Palo Alto Airport (PAO)

Coordinates

37.4603, -122.1086

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N290SH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Sirius Flying LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Palo Alto → Palo Alto

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12LA140

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper use of the throttle grip, which resulted in the deactivation of the rpm governor and a loss of rotor rpm.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a solo instructional flight, the pilot reported that while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, just before turning to the base leg, the helicopter sustained a loss of rotor rpm. The pilot reported that he entered an autorotation and that the throttle was unresponsive. After landing in a marsh area, the helicopter rolled over. A postaccident examination of the helicopter and a successful engine run revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot's flight instructor related that the pilot had a documented history of inadvertently gripping the throttle on the collective which, while manipulating the collective, would result in overriding the governor and a low rotor condition.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.