Summary
On March 22, 2009, a Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (N2360M) was involved in an accident near Richmond, VA. The accident resulted in 2 minor injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: A loss of engine power due to the pilot inadvertently shutting down the engine.
The pilot of the Robinson R-22 helicopter stated that upon reaching cruising altitude, he reached to pull the trim adjustment knob, but inadvertently pulled the mixture control knob, which caused the engine to shutdown. The pilot immediately lowered the collective lever and entered an autorotation. He attempted to restart the engine, using the throttle and the starter, but did not advance the mixture control from the idle cut off position. As he flared the helicopter to land, the windscreen contacted powerlines, and then the helicopter struck an automobile on a roadway. The helicopter sustained damage to the windscreen, main rotor blades, and tailboom.
This accident is documented in NTSB report ERA09CA205. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N2360M.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
A loss of engine power due to the pilot inadvertently shutting down the engine.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The pilot of the Robinson R-22 helicopter stated that upon reaching cruising altitude, he reached to pull the trim adjustment knob, but inadvertently pulled the mixture control knob, which caused the engine to shutdown. The pilot immediately lowered the collective lever and entered an autorotation. He attempted to restart the engine, using the throttle and the starter, but did not advance the mixture control from the idle cut off position. As he flared the helicopter to land, the windscreen contacted powerlines, and then the helicopter struck an automobile on a roadway. The helicopter sustained damage to the windscreen, main rotor blades, and tailboom. The pilot operating handbook for the Robinson R-22 helicopter states that "If the mixture control is inadvertently pulled in flight, engine stoppage will result. To avoid pulling the wrong control, always reach around left side of cyclic to actuate lateral trim."
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA09CA205