Robinson R22 BETA N7185K

Summary

On 16 June 2003 at about 20:55 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N7185K, operated by Orlando Flight Training, was involved in an accident near Kissimmee, 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.

Date

16 June 2003 at 20:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Kissimmee, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Kissimmee (KISM)

Coordinates

28.2939, -81.4356

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N7185K

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Orlando Flight Training

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA03CA129

Nobody was injured.

The inadequate supervision by flight instructor for his failure to prevent incorrect anti-torque pedal input by the student resulting in the helicopter yawing at touchdown. A factor in the accident was the incorrect anti-torque pedal input by the student pilot while performing a practice auto-rotative landing procedure from a hover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The CFI stated that his student was having difficulty performing hovering auto-rotations, and they were practicing the maneuver. After about 4 executions of the maneuver, while hovering about 2 feet above the ground at the practice area, the student applied left anti-torque pedal instead of right input when he reduced engine power to begin the maneuver. The CFI later reported he had his right foot over the right anti-torque pedal to confirm correct input by the student, but he was unable to prevent or correct the incorrect input from the student as quickly as he should have done. The helicopter started to spin to the left and while descending, the aft portion of the left skid dug in to the soft soil and the helicopter stopped spinning immediately. A vibration followed the landing; he disengaged the clutch and secured the engine then exited the helicopter. Post accident inspection of the helicopter by him revealed the tail boom was substantially damaged. The student pilot stated that he was practicing the autorotation maneuver at the practice area with his flight instructor. On his third or fourth attempt of performing the maneuver, the helicopter spun to the left and contacted the ground. His instructor later told him that he applied left anti-torque pedal instead of right pedal causing the helicopter to spin to the left at an unusual rate in autorotation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.