What happened
On Friday, May 11, 2001, at 16:00, a Robinson R22 helicopter, registered F-GJMO, was conducting training exercises at the Meaux - Esbly aerodrome. The flight, which began at Lognes aerodrome, involved a pilot and one passenger performing autorotation maneuvers.
After integrating into the traffic pattern for runway 16 right, the pilot completed three straight-line autorotations. These maneuvers were all too short, with the first requiring a go-around. The pilot then attempted a fourth autorotation from a near-tailwind position at an altitude of 700 feet. During this approach, the pilot noted an inability to reach the intended touchdown point. While the rotor RPM was within the green range, the pilot increased collective pitch to gain additional lift, which subsequently caused a decrease in rotor RPM.
Despite the loss of rotor speed, the pilot chose to continue the maneuver. During the flare, the aircraft touched down at the threshold of runway 16 right and bounced slightly. As the helicopter slid along the ground, it pivoted 90 degrees. Due to the loss of rotor inertia, a main rotor blade struck and severed the tail boom at the level of the anti-collision light.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making during the unstable approach and the mechanical consequences of the rotor RPM decay. Investigators examined the flight sequence, noting that the pilot attempted to use collective pitch to increase lift during an approach that was already failing to reach the target point. The investigation also reviewed the flight manual requirements regarding stabilized approaches for autorotation exercises.