NTSB Investigates R22 Impact

One of the most critical skills that any helicopter pilot can master is the autorotation... and much more so when that pilot is trying to become a CFIH. Somehow, though, the prep for one pilot's CFI checkride went awry and the aircraft wound up impacting the ground with fatal result. Herewith,the current NTSB Prelim...

NTSB Identification: WPR09FA459
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, September 20, 2009 in Forest Grove, OR
Aircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA, registration: N956SH
Injuries: 2 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On September 20, 2009, about 1309 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta, N956SH, collided with terrain near Forest Grove, Oregon. Hillsboro Aviation, Inc., was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the commercial rated pilot under instruction (PUI) were killed; the helicopter sustained substantial damage from impact forces and post crash fire. The local instructional flight departed Hillsboro, Oregon, at an unknown time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The operator reported that the PUI was preparing for a CFI check ride. The two airmen were going to practice autorotations with power recoveries.

A witness with helicopter experience observed several uneventful autorotations, and then stopped watching. Another witness observed the helicopter descend rapidly until it collided with the ground.

R22 File Photo

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the wreckage on scene. He noted that the helicopter was upright, and there were no ground scars leading to the wreckage. The skids spread outward, and the main rotor blades bent upward about 18 inches from the hub.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov