Manassas Regional/Harry P Davi Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Manassas, Virginia 20108
Sunday, January 20, 2002 13:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During a check ride, while demonstrating an autorotation from a hover, the student pilot pushed the collective forward instead of back and made a hard landing. The check ride continued without further incident; however, subsequent inspection of the helicopter revealed a bent airframe support tube. It was noted that the area of the bend had been previously spot welded.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing and bent airframe support tube. A factor in this accident was previous damage to the airframe support tube.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/20/2002
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Manassas
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 20108
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 384317N
Event Location Longitude 0773055W
Event Location Airport MANASSAS REGIONAL/HARRY P DAVI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HEF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 192
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1255 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID HEF
Elevation of weather observation facility 192
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.2
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12119
NTSB Notification Source FAA EROC
NTSB Notification Date Jan 24 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 26 2002 11:02AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Baltimore

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1964J
NTSB Number NYC02LA050
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Robinson
Aircraft Model R-22
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2591
Certified Max Gross Weight 1370
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jet Services Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9998 Wakeman Dr.
Aircraft Owner City Manassas
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 20110
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code HEF
Departure City Manassas
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
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 - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 19 2002 3:48PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --