Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary LAX91LA182

PHOENIX, AZ, USA

Aircraft #1

N4066J

ROBINSON R22-BETA

Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT AN ALTITUDE OF 500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND AT AN AIRSPEED OF 60 KNOTS. THE MAIN ROTOR TACHOMETER DECREASED BELOW ITS MINIMAL RANGE FOR FLIGHT WHEN THE HELICOPTER ENTERED THE AUTOROTATION. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT CONTINUED THE AUTOROTATIVE DESCENT UNTIL PASSING 150 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL BEFORE INITIATING A POWER RECOVERY. THE MAIN ROTOR RPM DID NOT INCREASE AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH GROUND.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MAIN ROTOR RPM. FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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