ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 141691
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| Date: | Friday 6 January 2012 |
| Time: | 15:53 |
| Type: |  Robinson R22 Beta |
| Owner/operator: | Bayphoto Helicopter LLC |
| Registration: | N8066U |
| MSN: | 1273 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1990 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 4584 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-320 SERIES |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Location: | Albert Whitted Airport, St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Albert Whitted Airport, St Petersburg, Florida (SPG/KSPG) |
| St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport, Clearwater, Florida (PIE/KP | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
According to the helicopter flight instructor, he was preparing a helicopter-rated commercial pilot for his helicopter flight instructor check ride. After the pilot receiving instruction completed a straight-in auto rotation, the flight instructor demonstrated a throttle-off, 180-degree auto rotation from 600 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot receiving instruction then attempted the same maneuver, but during the entry, the helicopter airspeed became slow while the rotor rpm remained "in the green." The pilot receiving instruction lowered the nose of the helicopter, which increased airspeed.
As the helicopter turned onto final approach at an altitude of about 300 feet agl, the flight instructor advised the pilot receiving instruction to ease back on the cyclic while raising the collective to maintain rotor rpm. About 150 feet agl, at an airspeed of about 85 knots, and a rate of descent of about 2,000 feet per minute, the flight instructor took over control of the helicopter and began to pull back on the cyclic while raising the collective. Despite the flight instructor’s efforts, the helicopter continued a tail-low descent into the ground, severing the tail boom.
Post-accident examination revealed no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The flight instructor's delayed remedial action during the pilot-receiving-instruction's practice auto rotation that developed a high rate of descent. Contributing to the accident was the pilot-receiving-instruction's improper control inputs during the practice auto rotation.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
2. FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?omni=Home-N-Number&nNumberTxt=8066U
3. http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2012/01/helicopter-crash-at-albert-whitted.html
4. http://helihub.com/2012/01/06/06-jan-12-robinson-r22-st-petersburg-us-florida/
5. http://helicoptersafety.blogspot.com/2012/01/06-jan-12-n8066u-robinson-r22-st.html
6. http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/accidents/no-injuries-reported-after-helicopter-makes-hard-landing-at-st-petersburgs/1209512
7. http://oldnortheast.patch.com/articles/helicopter-crash-at-st-pete-airport
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 07-Jan-2012 03:16 | Alpine Flight | Added |
| 10-Oct-2016 12:50 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:26 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 27-Nov-2017 17:52 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Operator, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 04-Sep-2018 01:10 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Operator, Other fatalities, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
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