SANTA ANA, CA, USA
N8358B
ROBINSON R22
THE COMMERCIAL PLT WAS RATED IN FIXED WING ACFT, BUT IN THE HELICOPTER, HAD STUDENT PRIVILEGES ONLY. HE HAD OBTAINED APRX 37 HRS OF DUAL INSTRUCTION & 3 HRS OF SOLO TIME IN THE ROBINSON R22 HELICOPTER; HOWEVER, 1.3 HRS OF HIS SOLO TIME WAS LIMITED TO HOVER FLT ONLY. HE WAS NOT ENDORSED FOR UNSUPERVISED SOLO ON 10/6/82. HE TOOK OFF ON THE X-COUNTRY FLT TO COMMUTE TO HIS PLACE OF BUSINESS. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING LOW & FAST WHEN THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE COCKPIT. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE HELICOPTER WAS FLYING IN LEVEL FLT & THE ENG WAS RUNNING "FLAT OUT" UNTIL THE MAIN ROTOR SYS SEPARATED. THE HELICOPTER THEN ENTERED A STEEP DIVE, CRASHED & BURNED. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT MAST BUMPING & SEVERANCE OF THE MAIN ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT HAD OCCURRED. THE EXAM FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY FAILURE, MALFUNCTION OR ABNORMALITY PRIOR TO THE MAIN ROTOR SEPARATION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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