Robinson R22 N689M

Summary

On 13 April 2019 at about 16:20 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N689M, operated by Boatphoto Helicopter Llc, was involved in an accident near Bradenton Beach, 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

13 April 2019 at 16:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Bradenton Beach, Florida, United States

Coordinates

27.4506, -82.6861

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N689M

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Boatphoto Helicopter Llc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Englewood → Clearwater

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA19TA153

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper decision to execute a low altitude turn that resulted in a strong tailwind and to reduce the airspeed to 0 knots and the flight instructor's diverted attention and inadequate monitoring, which resulted in the helicopter settling with power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that during an instructional flight, he was flying the helicopter about 100 ft above water while the flight instructor took photographs. The pilot executed a 180° turn into a tailwind. The flight instructor stated that the pilot then pulled back on the cyclic and the airspeed reduced to 0 knots. The pilot indicated that immediately after the turn, the helicopter lost power and/or lift and that “the wind might have shifted.” The helicopter quickly settled with power and impacted the water, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor, fuselage, and tailboom. The flight instructor stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter. He further reported that the accident happened so fast that he did not have time to take the controls and recover. The pilot’s low altitude turn into the tailwind and reduction in airspeed led to the helicopter settling with power. The flight instructor's diverted attention likely precluded adequate monitoring and delayed his recognition of the conditions that led to the helicopter settling with power and thus provide appropriate remedial action.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.