MALABAR, FL, USA
N2313G
ROBINSON R-22 BETA
THE CFI AND THE RATED STUDENT PILOT WERE IN LEVEL FLIGHT WHEN ONE ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE CABIN AREA. THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED EVIDENCE OF MAIN ROTOR BLADE DIVERGENCE, MAST BUMPING, AND FRACTURE OF THE MAIN ROTOR MAST. EXAMINATION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS REVEALED OVERLOAD FRACTURES OF THE CYCLIC AND COLLECTIVE CONTROL TUBES. THE CFI HAD COMPLETED AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WITH ANOTHER STUDENT 1/2 HOUR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE STUDENT STATED THEY MAINTAINED A 70 KNOT CRUISE SPEED AND PERFORMED TURNS MAINTAINING ALTITUDE AND HEADING, AND THE CFI DEMONSTATED LOW ROTOR RPM AND RECOVERIES.
A DIVERGENCE OF THE MAIN ROTOR FROM ITS NORMAL PLANE OF ROTATION FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON WHICH RESULTED IN MAST BUMPING AND A MAIN ROTOR BLADE CONTACT WITH THE COCKPIT AREA.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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