Pilot Debrief

ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II near Phoenix, AZ — 2021-09-30

Final reportWPR21LA359
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Date
2021-09-30
Location
Phoenix, AZ, USA
Airport
KSDL
Aircraft
ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
Registration
N74706
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while making a clearing turn which resulted in a hard landing.

NTSB narrative

The solo student pilot reported that, while making a clearing turn, the wind caught the tail and abruptly spun the helicopter. He applied corrective pedal inputs then raised the collective to avoid the ground and the helicopter began to rotate clockwise about the vertical axis and could not be corrected by application of left pedal. About 50 to 60 ft above the ground, he entered an autorotation where the helicopter landed hard and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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