Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary LAX83FA226

TORRANCE, CA, USA

Aircraft #1

N83574

ROBINSON R22

Analysis

THE HELICOPTER WAS ON AN FAA CERTIFICATION TEST FLT WITH A PART-TIME COMPANY EMPLOYEE IN THE LEFT SEAT AS PILOT- IN-COMMAND (PIC). AN FAA TEST PLT WAS IN THE RIGHT SEAT. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO ESTABLISH NEW DATA FOR THE HELICOPTER'S HEIGHT-VELOCITY (HV) CURVE. THE PIC STATED THAT ALL POINTS ALONG THE CURVE HAD BEEN SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATED ON AN EARLIER DATE. AFTER A NUMBER OF AUTOROTATIONS, THE PIC SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATED A SPECIFIC POINT AT 100 FT & 48 KTS. THE FAA PLT THEN TOOK THE CONTROLS & ATTEMPTED TO DUPLICATE THE POINT IN QUESTIONS. THE FLARE FOR THE LANDING DID NOT ARREST THE DESCENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD & THE MAIN ROTOR SERVED THE TAIL BOOM. BOTH PLTS ADMITTED THAT THEY DID NOT CLEARLY DEFINE THEIR INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES PRIOR TO THE FLT.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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