Jean Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jean, Nevada 89124
Wednesday, May 25, 2005 9:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During a 180-degree practice autorotation, the main rotor rpm decayed and the helicopter tail boom collided with a boundary fence short of the intended landing spot. As the helicopter rolled out of the 180-degree turn onto final approach, the certified flight instructor and student both noticed that the main rotor rpm had decayed. The student then increased the throttle in attempt to go around and the instructor took the controls. At this point the instructor noticed that the main rotor rpm was at 92 percent and the helicopter was descending. The CFI was unable to stop the decent rate, and the helicopter collided with the fence short of the intended touchdown point and then impacted the terrain. The instructor and student both stated that the helicopter and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The density altitude was calculated to be about 5,590 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the student's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm when performing a180-degree autorotation, and the instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action. A factor in the accident was the high density altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/25/2005
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 945
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Jean
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89124
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 354606N
Event Location Longitude 1151946W
Event Location Airport Jean Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 0L7
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 2832
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 956 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 25
Weather Observation Facility ID KLAS
Elevation of weather observation facility 2181
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.93
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) 18301
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date May 25 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2005 12:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-LAS-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N192SH
NTSB Number LAX05CA188
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Robinson
Aircraft Model R-22 Beta II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3459
Certified Max Gross Weight 1370
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jan Air, LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 549 Mercey Springs Rd.
Aircraft Owner City Los Banos
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93635
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Silver State Helicopters
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 500 E. Cheyenne
Operator City N. Las Vegas
Operator State NV
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 89030
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KVGT
Departure City Las Vegas
Departure State NV
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 0L7
Destination City Jean
Destination State NV
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 16 2005 2:51PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 2L
Runway Length 4600
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --