PHOENIX, AZ, USA
N4066J
ROBINSON R22-BETA
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT AN ALTITUDE OF 500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND AT AN AIRSPEED OF 60 KNOTS. THE MAIN ROTOR TACHOMETER DECREASED BELOW ITS MINIMAL RANGE FOR FLIGHT WHEN THE HELICOPTER ENTERED THE AUTOROTATION. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT CONTINUED THE AUTOROTATIVE DESCENT UNTIL PASSING 150 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL BEFORE INITIATING A POWER RECOVERY. THE MAIN ROTOR RPM DID NOT INCREASE AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH GROUND.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MAIN ROTOR RPM. FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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