Pilot Debrief

ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA near Richmond, VA — 2009-03-22

Final reportERA09CA205
Sign in to save
Date
2009-03-22
Location
Richmond, VA, USA
Airport
RIC
Aircraft
ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
Registration
N2360M
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

A loss of engine power due to the pilot inadvertently shutting down the engine.

NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot 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's Operating Handbook for the Robinson R-22 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."

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

Related mishaps