Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Phoenix, Arizona 85034
Tuesady, June 10, 2003 18:45 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The helicopter landed hard and rolled over during a power recovery from a practice autorotation. The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that he and the student experienced a "total rotor stall" due to a failure to do a power recovery. He and the student had performed a series of autorotations prior to the eventful one. The entry and glide were "very well managed, the student nailed his rpm control and pitch in the glide." During the level off from the flare, the student was beginning to raise the collective as power was restored. The CFI told the student to begin rolling on the throttle, simultaneously reaching for the throttle himself to assist the student in rolling it on. However, the student firmly gripped the throttle and rolled it off. The instructor reported that he could not override the student's input prior to a main rotor rpm decay that caused the helicopter to land hard. Due to gusty wind conditions, the helicopter was blown off course and came to rest on its left side in a mature cactus (cholla) bed. Flight and throttle control continuity was established and no preimpact anomalies were found.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's improper use of the throttle control, the certified flight instructor (CFI) inadequate supervision, and the student's control interference, which resulted in a loss of main rotor rpm.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/10/2003
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1845
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Phoenix
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85034
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 334118N
Event Location Longitude 1120457W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1853 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KDVT
Elevation of weather observation facility 1478
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
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) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.77
Density Altitude (feet) 4123
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16367
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 10 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 29 2004 1:02PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office SDL-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7508D
NTSB Number LAX03LA191
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 Beta
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3330
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 8 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12.5
Airframe Hours 1269
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Delta Leasing, Inc. DBA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2370 S Airport Blvd
Aircraft Owner City Chandler
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85249
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Quantum Helicopters
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2370 S Airport Blvd
Operator City Chandler
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 85249
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 No
Departure Airport Code KSDL
Departure City Scottsdale
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1730
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 6 2004 6:13PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --