Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Boise, Idaho
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Caldwell, Idaho
Accident Number: WPR20CA140
Date & Time: April 22, 2020, 17:00 Local
Registration: N6703S
Aircraft: Robinson R22
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Hard landing
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional
Analysis
The flight instructor reported that, during the instructional flight and while conducting a maximum-glide configuration autorotation, he and the student pilot set the rotor rpm between about 93% and 94%. The instructor began applying aft cyclic to slow the descent rate and to regain rpm; however, the descent rate did not decrease, so he applied more left cyclic to no avail and then increased the throttle. The helicopter landed hard at the most level attitude the instructor could make it, and it then bounced and came to rest. The tailboom was substantially damaged. The Pilot's Operating Manual contained a caution that stated to "increase rotor RPM to 97% minimum when autorotating below 500 ft above ground level." The chief flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The flight instructor's failure to set the proper rotor rpm during a practice autorotation, which led to his failure to maintain a proper descent rate and resulted in a hard, bounced landing.
Findings
Aircraft Descent rate - Not attained/maintained
Personnel issues Use of equip/system - Instructor/check pilot
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Instructor/check pilot
Factual Information
History of Flight
Autorotation Miscellaneous/other
Autorotation Attempted remediation/recovery
Autorotation Hard landing (Defining event)
Flight instructor Information
Certificate: Commercial; Flight instructor
Age: 48, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane; Helicopter
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Helicopter; Instrument helicopter
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: May 22, 2019
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: September 30, 2019
Flight Time: (Estimated) 644 hours (Total, all aircraft), 101 hours (Total, this make and model), 479 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 101 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 4 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 55, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: May 25, 2019
Occupational Pilot: UNK
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: August 21, 2000
Flight Time: (Estimated) 355 hours (Total, all aircraft), 0 hours (Total, this make and model), 253 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 11 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Robinson
Registration: N6703S
Model/Series: R22 Beta
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture: 2004
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 3621
Landing Gear Type: N/A; Skid
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: March 19, 2020 100 hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1370 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 7612.2 Hrs at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: O-360 SERIES
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 180 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Rotorcraft external load (133), On-demand air taxi (135), Pilot school (141)
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KEUL,2429 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 16:56 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 27°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 8500 ft AGL
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 250°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 21°C / 1°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Caldwell, ID (EUL)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: Company VFR
Destination: Caldwell, ID (EUL)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 16:50 Local
Type of Airspace: Class G
Airport Information
Airport: Caldwell Industrial EUL
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 2431 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used:
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Simulated forced landing
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 43.639999,-116.639999(est)
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