N453SH

Substantial
None

Robinson R-22 Beta IIS/N: 4025

Accident Details

Date
Monday, August 13, 2007
NTSB Number
SEA07CA233
Location
Tucson, AZ
Event ID
20070831X01278
Coordinates
31.798889, -110.602500
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The student pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM during landing approach, and the delayed remedial action by the flight instructor. A contributing factor was the high density altitude weather condition.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N453SH
Make
ROBINSON
Serial Number
4025
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
2006
Model / ICAO
R-22 Beta IIR22
Aircraft Type
Rotorcraft
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
SHINING STAR HELICOPTERS LLC
Address
2870 SOFT HORIZON WAY
Status
Deregistered
City
LAS VEGAS
State / Zip Code
NV 89135-1736
Country
United States

Analysis

The flight instructor reported that he was on a cross-country training flight with a student. He said the student was performing an off airport landing where the elevation was 4,500 feet mean sea level (msl); the density altitude was reported to be 7,300 feet msl. The flight instructor said that as the helicopter approached the landing site, it began to yaw right, and the left pedal was ineffective. He took control of the aircraft, and noticed that the main rotor RPM was low. He lowered the collective slightly and rolled on additional throttle. The flight instructor said that the left pedal would still not turn the helicopter into the wind. He lowered the collective again, allowed the helicopter to settle, and then pulled collective to cushion the landing. The main rotor contacted the terrain and mesquite shrub. The aircraft came to rest on its left side, facing the direction from which it came, and the tail boom was separated from the fuselage.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA07CA233