FT. PIERCE, FL, USA
N90249
ROBINSON R-22
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PERFORMING AUTOROTATIONS WITH 180 DEGREE TURNS TERMINATING WITH POWER RECOVERIES. AT ABOUT 200 FEET, AFTER COMPLETION OF THE TURN, THE INSTRUCTOR HEARD A RATTLING NOISE FOLLOWED BY A MEDIUM FREQUENCY VIBRATION. THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK THE CONTROLS AND COMPLETED THE LANDING BUT THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO THE LEFT SIDE WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED TO CUSHION THE TOUCHDOWN. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVESHAFT SEPARATED AT THE FORWARD FLEX COUPLING ATTACHMENT. AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT THE MANUFACTURER SENT MESSAGES TO ALL KNOWN OPERATORS OF THE AIRCRAFT CALLING FOR REINSPECTION OF THE LONG TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT BEFORE FURTHER FLIGHT. IN ADDITION, THE FACTORY WAS REPORTED TO BE INVOLVED IN A PROGRAM TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS THAT WOULD PERMANENTLY CORRECT THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH FAILURES OF THE LONG TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFTS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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