Robinson R22 BETA N333PJ

Summary

On 30 May 2024 at about 17:54 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N333PJ, operated by Hawaii Pacific Aviation, was involved in an accident near Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 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

30 May 2024 at 17:54

Classification

Accident

Location

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, United States

Coordinates

19.6819, -155.8225

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N333PJ

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Hawaii Pacific Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kailua Kona → Kailua Kona

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC24LA039

Nobody was injured.

The flight instructor’s failure to implement the correct action for low rotor RPM recovery.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were practicing high density altitude training. The pilot receiving instruction made several landings to a pinnacle approved for practice landings by the flight school which was located at about 5,500’ ft msl. The flight instructor decided to try a new landing site, which was not approved by the flight school, located at 6,500’ ft msl. On their second approach to the new landing area the rotor RPM began to decay, the flight instructor took the controls, he pushed forward on the cyclic to attempt to go around and added power, increasing collective. The instructor’s control inputs resulted in the main rotor rpm’s continued decrease. The helicopter impacted the ground resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and tail boom. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.