Pilot Debrief

ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R22 MARINER near Lee's Summit, MO — 2013-08-18

Final reportCEN13CA575
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Date
2013-08-18
Location
Lee's Summit, MO, USA
Airport
LXT
Aircraft
ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R22 MARINER
Registration
N8316D
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The student pilot's improper flare while performing an autorotation and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action to correct the high sink rate, which resulted in a hard landing.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor was providing primary helicopter instruction to a fixed-wing pilot on how to conduct 180-degree autorotations. The instructor said the pilot entered the flare lower to the ground than usual and began to descend. By the time the instructor noticed the high descent rate, it was too late for him to recover and he was only able to apply full-up collective to cushion the impact. The helicopter landed hard spreading the skids. During the landing and the main rotor blades flexed downward and severed the tailboom.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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