ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA near Forest Grove, OR — 2009-09-20

Final reportWPR09FA459

Date: 2009-09-20
Location: Forest Grove, OR, USA
Airport: HIO
Aircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
Registration: N956SH
Category: Helicopter
Highest injury: Fatal
Fatalities: 2
Phase of flight: Maneuvering

Probable cause

The flight crew’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor speed while maneuvering, which resulted in a main rotor blade stall and an uncontrolled descent into terrain.

NTSB narrative

The pilot under instruction was preparing for a certified flight instructor (CFI) check ride and was in the left seat. The CFI was in the right seat, and the two airmen were going to practice autorotations with power recoveries. A witness with helicopter experience observed several uneventful autorotations and then stopped watching; another witness heard a bang. The witnesses then observed the helicopter descending upright with the left skid low. Investigators examined the wreckage and observed signatures indicating that the engine and main rotor blades were rotating at a low speed at impact. The main rotor blades were also coned upward, which is indicative of a low main rotor rpm state. A safety notice issued by the helicopter's manufacturer notes that main rotor blade stall due to low main rotor rpm causes a high percentage of helicopter accidents. It points out that the stall causes the main rotor rpm to rapidly decrease, and leads to an immediate uncontrolled descent.