Accident Robinson R22 Beta N4066J, Saturday 20 April 1991

You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.

Date:	Saturday 20 April 1991
Time:	16:20 LT
Type:	Robinson R22 Beta
Owner/operator:	Avcon, Inc.
Registration:	N4066J
MSN:	1506
Year of manufacture:	1990
Engine model:	Lycoming O-360-J2A
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Phoenix, AZ - United States of America
Phase:	Unknown
Nature:	Training
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT AN ALTITUDE OF 500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND AT AN AIRSPEED OF 60 KNOTS. THE MAIN ROTOR TACHOMETER DECREASED BELOW ITS MINIMAL RANGE FOR FLIGHT WHEN THE HELICOPTER ENTERED THE AUTOROTATION. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT CONTINUED THE AUTOROTATIVE DESCENT UNTIL PASSING 150 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL BEFORE INITIATING A POWER RECOVERY. THE MAIN ROTOR RPM DID NOT INCREASE AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH GROUND.

Probable Cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MAIN ROTOR RPM. FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING.

Accident investigation: