Robinson R22 Safety Record

the flight instructor's failure to maintain main rotor RPM after initiating a go-around from a pinnacle approach. A factor in the accident was the high density altitude condition.

THE COMMERCIAL RATED STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO INSURE THE INSTRUCTOR HAD TAKEN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS FAILURE TO PROPERLY SUPERVISE THE STUDENT WHICH RESULTED IN THE STUDENT LETTING GO OF THE CONTROLS WHILE IN A HOVER.

The failure of the pilot to maintain proper main rotor RPM, altitude, and airspeed during the performance of a steep turn. Inadequate in-flight planning and overconfidence in the pilot's abilities were factors in this accident.

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE WITH GROUND OBSTACLES, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH A POWER LINE.

THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO SEE AND AVOID THE CHARTED POWER LINE. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE FAILURE OF THE UTILITY COMPANIES TO ADEQUATELY REVIEW THE HAZARD POSED BY THE WIRES FOLLOWING A PREVIOUS COLLISION AT THE SAME LOCATION, AND PILOT'S COMPROMISED ABILITY TO DETECT THE WIRES DUE TO THEIR LACK OF CONSPICUITY.

THE INSTRUCTOR ALLOWING THE STUDENT FLY SOLO IN WIND CONDITIONS EXCEEDING THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE WINDS IN THE TRAINING SYLLABUS, AND ALSO NEAR THE MAXIMUM DEMONSTRATED CONTROLLABILITY ENVELOPE FOR THE HELICOPTER. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS.

THE FIXED-WING STUDENT PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN ATTEMPTING TO FLY A ROTARY WING AIRCRAFT, AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL IN-FLIGHT. THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE TRAINING IN ROTARY WING AIRCRAFT WAS A FACTOR.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM, WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING AND ROLLOVER. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL HELICOPTER EXPERIENCE.

THE LACK OF ADEQUATE SUPERVISION AND DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DELAY IN ADDING POWER BY THE STUDENT PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN A LOW ROTOR RPM CONDITION.

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT/APPLICANT OF THE R22B, N621SG, TO FOLLOW LOW APPROACH PROCEDURES, AND THE FAILURE OF THE DESIGNATED EXAMINER/OBSERVER IN THE R22B TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION FROM THE CESSNA 152, N5532Q. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE INSUFFICIENT RESPONSE OF BOTH PILOTS OF THE R22B IN REPLY TO TRAFFIC INFORMATION, THE LOCAL CONTROLLER'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN POSITIVE CONFIRMATION OF VISUAL ACQUISITION OF THE CESSNA 152 FROM THE PILOTS OF THE R22B, AND THE FAILURE OF THE LOCAL CONTROLLER TO REMAIN ATTENTIVE TO THE CONVERGING TRAFFIC AND ISSUE APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTIONS TO AVOID THE COLLISION.

THE STUDENT PILOT'S INITIAL FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM DURING THE GO AROUND AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGHT.

INCORRECT AIRSPEED, INSUFFICIENT AIRSPEED, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO PERFORM THE CORRECT EMERGENCY PROCEDURE FOLLOWING THE IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS SELF INDUCED PRESSURE BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE MAIN ROTOR RPM TO CUSHION THE LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE EXISTING HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

Failure by the pilot-in-command, for unknown reasons, to maintain sufficient altitude to clear surrounding terrain. Factors were mountainous terrain and high density altitude.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER CRUISE ALTITUDE UPON ENTERING A MOUNTAIN PASS AREA, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL WERE RELATED TO HIS ENCOUNTERING TURBULENCE AND DOWNDRAFTS.