Hard landing Accident Robinson R22 Beta G-ROBS, Monday 17 May 1993

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Date:	Monday 17 May 1993
Time:	10:12
Type:	Robinson R22 Beta
Owner/operator:	Robert Culff t/a Corniche Helicopters
Registration:	G-ROBS
MSN:	0860
Year of manufacture:	1988
Engine model:	Lycoming O-360-J2A
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Category:	Accident
Location:	Southend Airport, Rochford, Southend, Essex - United Kingdom
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Training
Departure airport:	Southend, Essex (SEN/EGMC)
Destination airport:	Southend, Essex (SEN/EGMC)
Investigating agency:	AAIB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
Written off (destroyed) 17-05-1993 when crashed at Southend Airport, Rochford, Southend, Essex. Tail struck ground during auto rotation landing. Tail rotor separated, aircraft rolled onto its side. Aircraft destroyed, 1 serious injury (to the instructor); pilot under training uninjured.

According to the following extract from the official AAIB report into the accident:

"Demonstration landing was to be south of the runway but north of central taxiway. Weather was fine with a gusty wind blowing from 150 degrees. Wind check from ATC read 150 degrees/11 knots. Instructor attributes cause of initial heavy landing to a disturbance of surface wind during the critical stage of cyclic flare. He also believed that the disturbance may have been caused by the propeller wash of a Lockheed Electra's four turboprop engines which had entered at the south eastern end of the central taxiway."

Damage sustained to airframe: Per the AAIB report "Helicopter destroyed". As a result, the registration G-ROBS was cancelled by the CAA just three months later, on 24-08-1993 as "Permanently withdrawn from use"

Accident investigation: