Robinson R22 N7514S

Summary

On 20 September 2017 at about 20:09 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N7514S, operated by Revolution Aviation, was involved in an accident near Long Beach, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 September 2017 at 20:09

Classification

Accident

Location

Long Beach, California, United States

Nearest airport

Long Beach /Daugherty Field/ (LGB)

Coordinates

33.8197, -118.1514

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N7514S

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2002

Engines

1

Operator

Revolution Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Long Beach → Long Beach

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR17LA211

1 person was seriously injured.

The student pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm during the crosswind landing approach and his subsequent improper decision to initiate an autorotation instead of applying corrective control inputs after the helicopter experienced normal airframe vibration. Also causal was his failure to raise the collective during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the final phase of a crosswind landing approach, the solo student pilot felt the helicopter shudder and heard the low rotor rpm horn sound. Instead of applying corrective control inputs, he immediately initiated an autorotation. He did not raise the collective control during the flare, as required, and the helicopter then landed hard and rolled over. Postaccident examination did not reveal any preimpact anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation, and the engine appeared to be operating at the time of ground impact. Airframe vibration during the final phase of a landing approach is not an unusual phenomenon, and a low rotor rpm warning under high-load conditions (such as when landing with a crosswind) can also occur if rotor speed and engine power are not properly managed. The pilot improperly decided to initiate an autorotation instead of applying corrective control inputs to address the vibrations and improperly performed the landing flare.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.