History of the Flight
The flight was a training session at Namur airfield (EBNM). The student pilot, who had not flown regularly since obtaining his Private Pilot Licence, was undertaking a refresher course with an instructor. They planned circuit flights, hover, governor failure, and autorotation exercises. After two successful autorotations from 1600 ft with power recovery, the third exercise was intended to be a full autorotation to the ground. The instructor directed the student to perform the landing. The helicopter flared but then transitioned to horizontal flight with excessive vertical speed. It struck the ground violently, leaving deep skid marks, bounced nose-down, skidded, and rolled onto its left side.
Aircraft Information
The Robinson R-22 Beta II (serial number 3832) was a single-engine, two-blade main rotor helicopter with a Lycoming O-360-J2A engine. It had a total flight time of 1690.2 hours and held a valid Belgian Certificate of Airworthiness and Airworthiness Review Certificate.
Personnel Information
The instructor was a 46-year-old male with a Commercial Pilot Licence and Flight Instructor rating, holding 3094.57 total flight hours, including 670 as instructor. The student pilot was a 42-year-old male with a Private Pilot Licence and 80.08 total flight hours.
Accident and Damage
The hard landing caused both main rotor blades to break. The helicopter sustained deformation to the vertical and horizontal firewalls, tail boom deformation, broken left door window, and damage to the transmission components. The wreckage examination revealed no pre-impact defects.
Cause
The accident was attributed to an inadequate flare at the conclusion of the autorotation exercise, resulting in a violent ground contact. The instructor's late reaction to the inadequate flare was noted as a contributing factor.