Robinson R22 BETA N8066U

Summary

On 6 January 2012 at about 20:53 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N8066U, operated by Bayphoto Helicopter LLC, was involved in an accident near St Petersburg, 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

6 January 2012 at 20:53

Classification

Accident

Location

St Petersburg, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Albert Whitted Field (SPG)

Coordinates

27.7508, -82.6228

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N8066U

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Bayphoto Helicopter LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

St Petersburg → Clearwater

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12CA137

Nobody was injured.

The flight instructor's delayed remedial action during the pilot-receiving-instruction's practice autorotation that developed a high rate of descent. Contributing to the accident was the pilot-receiving-instruction's improper control inputs during the practice autorotation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the helicopter flight instructor, he was preparing a helicopter-rated commercial pilot for his helicopter flight instructor check ride. After the pilot receiving instruction completed a straight-in autorotation, the flight instructor demonstrated a throttle-off, 180-degree autorotation from 600 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot receiving instruction then attempted the same maneuver, but during the entry, the helicopter airspeed became slow while the rotor rpm remained "in the green." The pilot receiving instruction lowered the nose of the helicopter, which increased airspeed. As the helicopter turned onto final approach at an altitude of about 300 feet agl, the flight instructor advised the pilot receiving instruction to ease back on the cyclic while raising the collective to maintain rotor rpm. About 150 feet agl, at an airspeed of about 85 knots, and a rate of descent of about 2,000 feet per minute, the flight instructor took over control of the helicopter and began to pull back on the cyclic while raising the collective. Despite the flight instructor’s efforts, the helicopter continued a tail-low descent into the ground, severing the tail boom. Postaccident examination revealed no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.