Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm and the instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action.
NTSB analysis
A certified flight instructor (CFI) and a student were practicing 180-degree autorotations. While turning final, the airspeed decayed and the student responded by pushing forward on the cyclic. The main rotor rpm dropped to 95 percent as the helicopter was descending. The instructor added throttle but was unable to arrest the descent rate or to recover the main rotor rpm. The right front skid contacted the ground, then the rotor struck the tail boom. The helicopter entered a right spin, drifted to the left, and rolled over. The pilots reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for LAX08CA298 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 11, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Prescott, Arizona
- Nearest airport
- Ernest A. Love Field Airport (PRC)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Robinson R22B
- N-number
- N227GH
- Category
- Helicopter
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.