History of Flight
On July 9, 2012, about 1015 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, N7527Y, impacted terrain following a loss of control while hovering at an off-field landing site near Murrieta, California. The helicopter was being operated by USA Academy of Aviation, Inc., under 14 CFR Part 91. The local instructional flight had originated from French Valley Airport, Murrieta, about 0900, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
The student reported they were practicing off-field landings. The instructor pointed to a hill and said he would demonstrate a “fast landing” approach. He flew toward the hill at about 50 knots, flared to slow, and came to a hover at the hilltop center. He hovered 3–4 feet above ground heading south into the wind, performed a left pedal turn to the east, and started to lift off. At that point, the helicopter rolled rapidly to the right, and the main rotor blades struck the ground. After coming to rest on its left side, the student exited and found the instructor trapped under the fuselage, unresponsive. The student said he was not on the controls and reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies.
Personnel Information
The 61-year-old flight instructor, seated in the left seat, held a commercial pilot certificate with rotorcraft helicopter rating and a flight instructor certificate with rotorcraft helicopter rating. His most recent FAA second-class medical certificate was issued September 6, 2011, at which time he reported 10,625 total flight hours and 251 hours in the preceding 6 months.
The student, in the right seat, held a private pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land rating. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued December 13, 2010, with 80 total hours and 20 hours in the preceding 6 months. He had started working with the instructor about one week earlier to obtain his rotorcraft helicopter rating, and they had flown together about 15 hours. He had not yet soloed in the helicopter.
Aircraft Information
The 2004 Robinson R22 Beta is a single-engine, two-person helicopter with a two-bladed main rotor, two-bladed tail rotor, and skid landing gear. Maximum takeoff weight is 1,370 pounds; useful load about 575 pounds. It is powered by a Lycoming O-360-J2A engine producing 145 horsepower at sea level. The most recent 100-hour inspection was completed March 11, 2012, at 2,100 recording hour meter time and 4,266.5 total time. At the accident, the meter read 2,199.6 hours. Maintenance records showed no uncorrected discrepancies.
Meteorological Information
At 1055, March Air Reserve Base (22 miles northwest) reported wind from 330° at 7 knots, clear sky, 10 miles visibility, temperature 34°C, dew point -4°C, altimeter 29.97 inHg. A nearby station in Hemet (12 miles north) reported calm winds around the accident time: 0959 NW 1 mph, 1004 NW 2.3 mph, 1009 calm, 1014 calm, 1019 NW 2 mph.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The helicopter came to rest on its left side, nose on a heading of about 090°, 10–12 feet southeast of a hilltop, on loose dirt over rock with sagebrush 1–4 feet high. The main rotor mast was bent and disconnected about 6 inches above the gearbox. Main rotor components, except an outboard section of one blade, lay next to the fuselage. Ground scars included one consistent with a main rotor blade tip strike 17 feet south of the fuselage. The intact main rotor blade was bent upward and back near the tip with chordwise creases. The other blade separated about 3 feet from the hub; the separated section was found 135 feet away, with tip bending and chordwise creases. Both tail rotor blades were disconnected near the hub, one with a small dent, the other with chordwise scuff marks. The tail rotor shaft rotated smoothly; flight controls had continuity.
Neither door was installed. The left windshield was shattered; the right was separated. There was a large scuff mark on the chin left of the landing lights. The left door frame and roof were distorted. The cowling around the main rotor mast was dented and deformed. The upper stabilizer was damaged near the tip and bent midway. Cyclic and collective flight controls showed no preimpact malfunctions; separated control tubes exhibited angular, jagged overload separations.
The engine was examined and no visible damage noted. After removing lower spark plugs and rotating by hand, good thumb suction and compression were obtained on all cylinders. The engine started and ran slightly rough initially, then smooth at idle and 100% rpm. A magneto check at 75% rpm showed an 8% drop on left, 12% on right. Oil pressure and temperature were normal.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy on the flight instructor, performed July 10, 2012, by the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner, identified the cause of death as craniocerebral trauma. Neither occupant wore a helmet; the helicopter was equipped with seat belts/shoulder harnesses, and the student reported both were using them. Forensic toxicology testing on the instructor's specimens was negative for all screened substances.