Ryan Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tucson, Arizona 85735
Thursday, May 15, 1986 11:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AFTER A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION WITH A POWER RECOVERY. AT APRX 550 FT AGL THE CFI ANNOUNCED A SIMULATED ENG FAILURE TO THE ATP AND THE THROTTLE WAS CLOSED TO FLIGHT IDLE. THE ATP ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION SMOOTHLY AND TURNED LEFT RAPIDLY INTO THE WIND. DURING THE TURN THE ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO INCREASE AND THE CFI INCREASED THE COLLECTIVE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM WITHIN LIMITS AND THEN REDUCED IT. THE THE ATP BEGAN TO DECELERATE AT 300 FT AGL AND AIRSPEED BEGAN TO DECREASE. AT 55 KTS INDICATED AIRSPEED, THE CFI CALLED FOR A POWER RECOVERY. THE ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO DECREASE AND THE CFI GOT ON THE CONTROLS AND ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A POWER RECOVERY. THE ATP HAD A TIGHT GRIP ON THE THROTTLE IN THE OVERRIDE POSITION. THE CFI WAS UNABLE TO TWIST THE THROTTLE TO THE POSITIVE RANGE POSITION. AT 100 FT AGL THE CFI NOTICED LOW ROTOR RPM AND AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT. THE CFI FLARED THE ACFT AND ATTEMPTED TO CUSHION THE LANDING BUT THE ACFT LANDED HARD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/15/1986
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City TUCSON
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85735
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RYAN FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RYN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 5
Degrees magnetic from airport 330
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1052 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID TUS
Elevation of weather observation facility 2630
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 4800
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1059
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 15 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 31499
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9072Y
NTSB Number LAX86LA219
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROBINSON
Aircraft Model R22
Aircraft Series Identifier R22
Aircraft Serial Number 214
Certified Max Gross Weight 1300
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 28 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 27
Airframe Hours 1238
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EDWARD J. DUGAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7370 EAST VICTORIA DR.
Aircraft Owner City TUCSON
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85730
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TUS
Departure City TUCSON
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --