N221DS – ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 Beta II – 2008-11-19 NTSB Accident Report

On November 19, 2008, a Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta II (N221DS) was involved in an incident near Erie, CO. 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: The pilot's improper flare during the practice autorotation which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing factors were the flight instructor's delayed remedial action and inadequate supervision.

The pilot, who was also a certified helicopter flight instructor, was demonstrating a 180-degree autorotation to the flight instructor as part of a flight review. While on final glide approximately 100 feet above ground level (agl), the landing checks were complete to include: rotor RPM in the green arc, airspeed at 60 knots, and the landing skids aligned with runway. Approximately 60 feet agl, the rotor RPM was at the bottom of the green arc, and the flight instructor expected the pilot to initiate a flare; however, the flare was "very mild, if none, with little reduction in aircraft speed and rate of descent." Subsequently, the flight instructor "hesitated" in taking the helicopter controls and the helicopter landed hard and skidded down the runway.

This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN09CA067. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N221DS.