Robinson R-22 N22431
9 July 1994 · Sanford, Florida, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 9 July 1994 at about 16:50 local time, a Robinson R-22 registered N22431 was involved in an accident near Sanford, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 16:50
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Sanford, Florida, United States
- Coordinates
- 28.8110, -81.3299
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22
- Registration
- N22431
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Observation
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA94LA176
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE TAILROTOR DRIVESHAFT FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS RESULTING IN LOSS OF TAILROTOR DRIVE. THIS RESULTED IN THE HELICOPTER SPINNING UNCONTROLLED AND DESCENDING FROM A HOVER UNTIL IT CRASHED IN THE WATER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE HELICOPTER WAS IN A 15 FOOT HOVER WHEN IT BEGAN TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT AND DESCEND. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE HELICOPTER AND IT CRASHED INTO THE WATER. A WITNESS ON THE GROUND OBSERVED THE TAILROTOR SLOW DOWN JUST PRIOR TO THE HELICOPTER STARTING TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER AFTER THE ACCIDENT INDICATED THE TAILROTOR DRIVESHAFT WAS SEPARATED AT THE LAST COUPLING PRIOR TO THE TAILROTOR GEARBOX. THE TAILROTOR GEARBOX WAS FREE TO TURN AND ONE TAILROTOR BLADE WAS BENT AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. THE OTHER TAILROTOR BLADE WAS NOT DAMAGED. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE SEPARATED TAILROTOR DRIVESHAFT INDICATED IT SEPARATED DUE TO TORSIONAL OVERSTRESS IN THE NORMAL DIRECTION OF ROTATION. THE DRIVESHAFT HAD ACCUMULATED 887 TOTAL HOURS SINCE IT WAS INSTALLED NEW IN JUNE 1992. THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN SUBJECTED TO AN OVERSPEED AND TWO GROUND DAMAGE OCCURRENCES TO THE TAIL STABILIZERS IN THE LAST 150 FLIGHT HOURS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R-22 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Sep 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Benson, Arizona, United States | Same AS Registered Owner | No injuries | - |
| 23 Sep 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Chico, California, United States | Sierra Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jan 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Dorado | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jan 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Miami, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jan 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Naples, Florida, United States | London Helicoper Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 May 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Bunnell, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jan 1994 | Piper PA-32R-301 | Live Oak, Florida, United States | Barker, Sirios C. | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 Jan 1994 | Aerospatiale AS-350 | Lakeland, Florida, United States | Bulldog Airlines Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 Jan 1994 | Cessna 152 | Osprey, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jan 1994 | Boeing A75N1 | Zellwood, Florida, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 17 Jan 1994 | Piper PA-28-180 | Boynton Beach, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jan 1994 | Airbus A-300 B4-203 | Ormond Beach, Florida, United States | Air Jamaica | Serious injuries | - |