ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 44721
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| Date: | Sunday 29 August 2004 |
| Time: | 18:02 |
| Type: |  Robinson R22 Beta |
| Owner/operator: | Helicopter Flight Training, Inc |
| Registration: | N871CL |
| MSN: | 617 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1987 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 4262 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-320-B2C |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | off Crab Meadow Beach, Long Island Sound, Northport, New York -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Islip, NY (ISP) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The flight instructor and the pilot departed on an instructional flight, and about 45 minutes later, witnesses observed the helicopter flying along a beach between 100 and 200 feet agl. One witness reported that the helicopter contacted a kite. Immediately thereafter, witnesses heard a loud "cracking" or "popping" noise, and the main rotor separated. The helicopter subsequently entered an uncontrolled descent and impacted the water. Examination of the main rotor mast fracture surfaces revealed signatures consistent with overload. The cockpit also exhibited damage consistent with main rotor contact. No evidence of any pre-impact mechanical malfunction or failure was noted. According to the pilot's operating handbook for the helicopter, "Pushing the cyclic forward following a pull-up or rapid climb, or even from level flight, produces a low-G (weightless) flight condition..." and "...mast bumping can occur. Severe in-flight mast bumping usually results in main rotor shaft separation and/or rotor blade contact with the fuselage."
Probable Cause: An improper maneuver by the flightcrew while attempting to avoid a kite, which resulted in mast bumping, the separation of the main rotor system, and a subsequent uncontrolled descent into water.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20040913X01406&key=1
FAA register: 2. FAA: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=871CL
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 28-Oct-2008 00:45 | ASN archive | Added |
| 08-Jun-2014 18:58 | TB | Updated [Aircraft type, Cn, Operator, Source, Damage] |
| 28-Sep-2016 22:10 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:24 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 07-Dec-2017 18:18 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Cn, Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
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