Summary
On May 07, 1995, a Robinson R22 BETA (N2321X) was involved in an incident near Miami, FL. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CFI FOR ALLOWING THE STUDENT TO INITIATE INITIAL FLARE AND POWER RECOVERY AT 100 FEET INSTEAD OF 40 FEET AND 40 FEET INSTEAD OF 8-10 FEET RESPECTIVELY. ADDITIONALLY, FAILURE OF THE CFI TO COMPLY WITH THE FAA APPROVED FLIGHT MANUALS.
On May 7, 1995, about 1130 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, registered to Metro Helicopter, Inc., operated by Ace Helicopter Corp., landed hard at the Kendall- Tamiami Executive Airport, Miami, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the certified flight instructor (CFI) and student were not injured. The flight originated about 1040 from the Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport, Miami, Florida.
The CFI stated that the student pilot was performing a practice autorotation with power recovery. The entry altitude and airspeed were 600 feet and 75 knots.
This incident is documented in NTSB report MIA95LA128. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N2321X.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CFI FOR ALLOWING THE STUDENT TO INITIATE INITIAL FLARE AND POWER RECOVERY AT 100 FEET INSTEAD OF 40 FEET AND 40 FEET INSTEAD OF 8-10 FEET RESPECTIVELY. ADDITIONALLY, FAILURE OF THE CFI TO COMPLY WITH THE FAA APPROVED FLIGHT MANUALS.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On May 7, 1995, about 1130 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, registered to Metro Helicopter, Inc., operated by Ace Helicopter Corp., landed hard at the Kendall- Tamiami Executive Airport, Miami, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the certified flight instructor (CFI) and student were not injured. The flight originated about 1040 from the Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport, Miami, Florida.
The CFI stated that the student pilot was performing a practice autorotation with power recovery. The entry altitude and airspeed were 600 feet and 75 knots. The glide airspeed stabilized at 65 knots and at 100 feet, the rotor rpm was in the green range, the airspeed was 60 knots, and the rate of descent was 1,500 feet per minute (fpm). At 100 feet the student initiated the flare and at 40 feet, forward cyclic and power were applied. The main rotor rpm then began to decay and the helicopter impacted the ground hard. A section of the tailboom was then severed by the main rotor blades. The CFI stated that there was no engine or airframe preimpact failure or malfunction.
According to the airframe manufacturer pilot's operating handbook normal procedures section and the flight training guide, the stated altitude to initiate the flare is about 40 feet above ground level (agl). At about 8-10 feet agl, apply forward cyclic to level the helicopter and raise collective to stop the descent.
Additionally, power as required to keep the rpm in the green arc.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# MIA95LA128