Robinson R22 BETA N4008D

Summary

On 25 July 1997 at about 22:30 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N4008D was involved in an accident near Chandler, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 July 1997 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Chandler, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Memorial (L07)

Coordinates

33.2405, -111.7800

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N4008D

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX97LA260

1 person was seriously injured.

The CFI's failure to recognize and correct for a vortex ring state, and his improper use of the flight controls, which resulted in the loss of control and uncontrolled descent.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The CFI and private pilot were practicing maneuvers at the airport. The CFI stated that the helicopter was suddenly in a nose-low attitude with a high rate of descent. He said he tried to raise the collective to stop the descent rate with no apparent result. The student stated that he began a 30-degree banked turn to the left. He said the instructor felt the turn was 'too lazy' and he took control of the aircraft and proceeded to increase the bank angle to approximately 45 degrees. The aircraft then began to pitch nose down, the collective and cyclic began to shake and vibrate, which he said continued until impact. The student is a private pilot with both single engine land and rotorcraft helicopter ratings. He had approximately 76 hours of fixed wing time and 223 hours in rotorcraft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.