On December 21, 2007, a Robinson R22 BETA (registration N844SH) was involved in an aviation accident near Pueblo, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in a hard landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter performing a hover autorotation training maneuver sustained substantial damage after touching down left skid first and hopping to the left.
Incident Details
A commercial student pilot, under the supervision of a flight instructor, was conducting a hover autorotation from a skid height of one foot. According to the instructor, yaw was minimal during the maneuver, and the helicopter drifted slightly to the left. The helicopter touched down left skid first, then briefly hopped to the left before settling. The student subsequently taxied the helicopter to parking.
Postflight Examination
A postflight examination of the helicopter revealed substantial damage. The flight instructor reported no anomalies with any of the helicopter systems prior to or during the maneuver.
Findings
The helicopter experienced a left-skid-first touchdown followed by a brief hop during the hover autorotation. No preexisting mechanical issues were identified with the aircraft's systems. The extent of the damage was noted after the flight.