Robinson R22 BETA N8320A

Summary

On 11 August 2005 at about 16:15 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N8320A, operated by Airman Testing & Training, Inc., was involved in an accident near Lantana, 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

11 August 2005 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Lantana, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Palm Beach County Park Airport (KLNA)

Coordinates

26.5931, -80.0850

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N8320A

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Airman Testing & Training, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lantana → Lantana

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA05LA148

Nobody was injured.

The CFI's delayed remedial action to recover from a practice autorotation with planned power recovery resulting in a hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane landed hard during a practice autorotative landing. The CFI stated that the student had previously demonstrated two practice, straight-in autorotative landings which concluded with a power recovery, and entered a third at 700 feet above ground level (agl) and 70 knots, with the main rotor and engine rpm needles "split", and the throttle in the detent. The student maintained 65 knots during the approach, and flared at 40 feet agl. He (CFI) noted that the helicopter was drifting away from the taxiway centerline so he advised the student to recover. The helicopter was leveled, and he (CFI) applied throttle slowly. While descending, he heard the low rotor warning horn just before impact, and believed the student pulled collective control just before touchdown. The helicopter impacted the ground "hard" on left side, spun to the right, and came to rest upright. The CFI also stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the helicopter, or any of its systems. The student reported the flare was normal and the main rotor rpm was still in the green. When the helicopter was leveled off, "...before we could roll the throttle back on, the left skid make contact with the ground."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.