Summary
On July 21, 2017, a Robinson Helicopter Company R22 (N28VH) was involved in an incident near Bozeman, MT. 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 flight instructor’s unstabilized autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.
According to the helicopter flight instructor, he was demonstrating simulated 180° right turn autorotations.
He reported that during the entry of the third autorotation, the helicopter attitude was excessively nose low and the rate of descent was high.
He initiated a power-on recovery; however, the flare was initiated too late.
He applied forward cyclic to level the skids and increased collective to its mechanical limit, but the helicopter touched down and one of the main rotor blades struck the tailboom.
This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA17CA434. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N28VH.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The flight instructor’s unstabilized autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
According to the helicopter flight instructor, he was demonstrating simulated 180° right turn autorotations.
He reported that during the entry of the third autorotation, the helicopter attitude was excessively nose low and the rate of descent was high.
He initiated a power-on recovery; however, the flare was initiated too late.
He applied forward cyclic to level the skids and increased collective to its mechanical limit, but the helicopter touched down and one of the main rotor blades struck the tailboom.
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom.
The pilot reported in the National Transportation Safety Board's, Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, "The event could have been avoided by recovering the autorotation sooner and doing a go-around."
The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA17CA434