Robinson R22 BETA N404LE

Summary

On 14 August 2010 at about 14:50 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N404LE, operated by North Canyon Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Mack, Colorado, 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

14 August 2010 at 14:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Mack, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Mack-Mesa Airport (C07)

Coordinates

39.2675, -108.8583

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N404LE

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

North Canyon Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Grand Junction → Mack

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN10CA485

Nobody was injured.

The flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and his student were practicing a 180-degree autorotation with a power recovery occurring at the hover. The helicopter's sink rate increased dramatically in the flare, about 40 feet above the ground. The CFI initiated a go-around by increasing power, raising the collective, and pushing the cyclic forward. The helicopter continued to descend and contacted the runway in a level attitude. After it came to a stop, the CFI confirmed that the main rotor blade had struck the tail boom. The instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical deficiencies with the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.