What happened
On July 18, 2007, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter was conducting a training flight near Zaiserweiher, Germany, as part of a preparation session for a practical pilot examination. The flight, which included a student pilot and an experienced flight instructor, had already successfully completed three engine-failure training maneuvers without landing.
During the fourth attempt at approximately 11:46 local time, the crew was performing an autorotation maneuver at an altitude of roughly 600 feet. As the helicopter transitioned into a right turn toward a planned emergency landing site, the student pilot failed to initiate the necessary flare or initiated it too late. Although the instructor attempted to intervene during the flare, the intervention occurred too late to arrest the high rate of descent. The aircraft struck the ground with significant energy, causing the left skid to buckle and the fuselage to impact the terrain. The impact was severe enough that the main rotor blades struck the tail boom, severing it from the airframe. The helicopter eventually came to rest on its left side. The two occupants were able to exit the wreckage without assistance.
The investigation
The BFU investigation focused on the sequence of the autorotation maneuver and the actions of the crew. Investigators examined the aircraft, a 1992 model with 3,069 total flight hours, and found no evidence of mechanical failure or technical defects. The investigation also reviewed the flight experience of the crew, noting the instructor's extensive background and the student's status as a candidate nearing the end of his training. Meteorological conditions at the time were clear with good visibility and light winds.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a pilot error by the student pilot, specifically the failure to properly execute the flare during the autorotation.
- The flight instructor's attempt to correct the flight path was unsuccessful due to the high rate of descent already established.
- The student pilot was operating under the increased stress of a simulated examination environment.
- The impact resulted in the destruction of the Robinson R22 Beta and significant damage to the surrounding terrain, though no injuries were sustained by the occupants.