RIVERSIDE, CA, USA
N549SM
ROBINSON R-22B
THE SOLO STUDENT WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. WHILE DOWNWIND THE STUDENT SAID THE ENGINE RPM INDICATOR SUDDENLY PEGGED AT THE TOP OF THE GAUGE AND THE ROTOR RPM BEGAN RAPIDLY DECREASING. THE STUDENT INITIATED AN AUTO ROTATION. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND ROLLED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER BY FAA INSPECTORS REVEALED THAT THE FORWARD DRIVE BELT WAS SPLIT LONGITUDINALLY AND DISPLACED FROM THE TRANSMISSION PULLEY. THE AFT DRIVE BELT WAS FOUND OFF THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION PULLEYS. NO OTHER SYSTEM ABNORMALITIES WERE NOTED.
THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE TO TRANSMISSION DRIVE BELT AND THE PILOTS FAILURE TO CORRECTLY JUDGE OF THE LANDING FLARE DURING THE SUBSEQUENT AUTOROTATION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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