Robinson R-22B N549SM
2 November 1991 · Riverside, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 2 November 1991 at about 00:43 local time, a Robinson R-22B registered N549SM, operated by Parflite, Inc., was involved in an accident near Riverside, California, United States. One person was 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.
The record
- Date
- at 00:43
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Riverside, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 33.2002, -117.3497
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B
- Registration
- N549SM
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Parflite, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX92LA034
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE TO TRANSMISSION DRIVE BELT AND THE PILOTS FAILURE TO CORRECTLY JUDGE OF THE LANDING FLARE DURING THE SUBSEQUENT AUTOROTATION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE SOLO STUDENT WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. WHILE DOWNWIND THE STUDENT SAID THE ENGINE RPM INDICATOR SUDDENLY PEGGED AT THE TOP OF THE GAUGE AND THE ROTOR RPM BEGAN RAPIDLY DECREASING. THE STUDENT INITIATED AN AUTO ROTATION. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND ROLLED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER BY FAA INSPECTORS REVEALED THAT THE FORWARD DRIVE BELT WAS SPLIT LONGITUDINALLY AND DISPLACED FROM THE TRANSMISSION PULLEY. THE AFT DRIVE BELT WAS FOUND OFF THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION PULLEYS. NO OTHER SYSTEM ABNORMALITIES WERE NOTED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R-22B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jul 1991 | Robinson R-22B | White Plains, New York, United States | Engle Helicopter, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jun 1991 | Robinson R-22B | Corvallis, Oregon, United States | Pacific RIM Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 11 Jan 1991 | Robinson R-22B | Torrance, California, United States | Rolling Hills Aviation, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Sep 1991 | Robinson R-22B | Rio Vista, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Robinson R 22B | Carmel, Indiana, United States | Clayton W. Farrar | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 Apr 1991 | Robinson R-22B | Piru, California, United States | RAY Klein | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul 1991 | Cessna C-172P | Hesperia, California, United States | South Bay Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172N | Napa, California, United States | Bridgeford Flying SVC. | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Beechcraft 76 | Sacramento, California, United States | Altair Aviation Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1991 | Ayres S2R | Visalia, California, United States | Gilbert Aviation Industries | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 1991 | Cessna 421C | Auburn, California, United States | Edward Mueller | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1991 | Champion 7GCBC | Lake Elsinore, California, United States | Halbeisen, John F | Fatal | 2 |