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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

December 10, 1998 · Robinson R-22B · N2321X

Lantana, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 10, 1998
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Lantana, FL
Aircraft
Robinson R-22B
Tail Number
N2321X
Operator
Aircoastal Helicopter
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL99LA033

The flight instructor was demonstrating a 180-degree autorotation, with power recovery. As the helicopter descended through 200 feet, the low rotor RPM horn sounded. The tachometer was about 92 percent. The flight instructor then rolled on the throttle and went down on the collective simultaneously. The instructor stated that his descent rate was too great to arrest the sink. The instructor attempted a shallow flare, and cushioned with collective. The helicopter contacted the ground in a level attitude.. The aircraft slid in grass, the right skid dug into the ground and the helicopter rolled over. No mechanical problems with the airplane were discovered during the wreckage examination.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper use of the flight controls during an attempted autorotation.

Full Narrative

On December 10, 1998, at 1400 eastern standard time, a Robinson R-22B, helicopter, N2321X, collided with the ground, during a practice autorotation, at the Lantana Airport, in Lantana, Florida. The instructional flight was operated by Aircoastal Helicopter under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor and the dual student were not injured. The flight departed Lantana, Florida, at 1350. The flight instructor reported that he and the dual student were conducting autorotation training. The dual student had completed several power recovery autorotations, and the session had progressed to the point where the dual student was ready for a 180-degree autorotation. The flight instructor was demonstrating a 180-degree autorotation, with power recovery, when the accident occurred. The flight instructor stated that "all airplane instruments were in the green, all warning lights were out, and the carburetor was heat on." Also the instructor noted that the carburetor air temperature gauge(CAT) was in the normal range. As the helicopter descended through two-hundred feet, the low rotor RPM horn sounded. The tachometer was at about ninety-two percent. The flight instructor then, "rolled on throttle and went down on the collective simultaneously." The flight instructor attempted a shallow flare, and attempted to cushioned the helicopter with the collective. At this point the flight instructor realized the rate of descent was too great to arrest. The helicopter contacted the ground in a level attitude with the skids aligned with the runway heading. The aircraft slid in the grass, the right skid dug into the ground, and the helicopter rolled over on the left side. The flight instructor turned off the battery as they exited the aircraft. Wreckage examination revealed that the carburetor heat was found in the on position, and the throttle linkage appeared to function normally. Examination of the helicopter and the engine assembly failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or a component failure. A review of weather data disclosed that conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:00 EST
Nearest AirportPalm Beach County Park (0nm)
Runway9
Runway Length3489 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRobinson R-22B
Tail NumberN2321X
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAircoastal Helicopter
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-B2C · Reciprocating · 124
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 31 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind100° @ 11 kt, gusting 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time18:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data