Robinson R-22 BETA N805EH

Summary

On 28 April 1998 at about 00:55 local time, a Robinson R-22 BETA registered N805EH was involved in an accident near Sacramento, California, 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

28 April 1998 at 00:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Sacramento, California, United States

Coordinates

38.5108, -121.4892

Aircraft

Robinson R-22 BETA

Registration

N805EH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Davis → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX98LA146

Nobody was injured.

the CFI's failure to follow procedures and directives, and the use of an improper technique to transition from an autorotative descent to a hover, which exceeded the aircraft's performance capabilities and resulted in a unplanned hard landing. The soft terrain was a factor in the nose over and rollover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The instructor and student were performing an autorotation with both pilots on the controls. As the power recovery progressed the aircraft continued to descend. The aircraft contacted the ground and slid into soft mud. The toes of the skids sunk into the ground and the aircraft rocked forward onto its nose and then fell on its right side. Both the instructor and student were able to exit the aircraft through the left cabin door without assistance. The instructor attributed the unintended descent to high temperature and humidity near the surface. According to the manufacturer, Robinson Helicopter Safety Notice SN-22 was issued in 1986 and revised in 1994. The document states that rate of descent, trim, and airspeed are also factors that effect the aircraft's ability to transition to a hover. By not reducing the rate of descent but instead reducing forward airspeed and then raising collective and attempting to flare to stop the rate of descent, the aircraft flares in its own downwash. This sequence increases the power and collective pitch required to arrest the descent. The aircraft begins to enter the vortex ring state and a hard landing occurs. This can occur during a steep, power off approach.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.