Robinson R-22 Beta accident near Rochester, MN
On July 8, 2004, a Robinson R-22 Beta (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Rochester, MN. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 8, 2004
- Place
- Rochester, MN
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 Beta · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 43.963°N, 92.427°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040715X00983
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 8, 2004, at 1218 central daylight time, a Robinson R-22 Beta helicopter, N8118L, piloted by a student pilot and a flight instructor, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Rochester, Minnesota. The student pilot was fatally injured and the flight instructor received serious injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 cross-country instructional flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The last leg of the flight departed from the Austin Municipal Airport (AUM), Austin, Minnesota, about 1155. The cross-country flight originated from a helicopter pad in front of the helicopter's hangar at a farmstead located about 5 nautical miles northeast of the Rochester International Airport (RST), Rochester, Minnesota. The first leg of the cross-country flight was from the helicopter pad to Fillmore County Airport (FKA), Preston, Minnesota, located about 20 miles to the southeast. The second leg of the flight was from FKA to AUM, located about 33 nautical miles to the west. A witness reported that the helicopter was shut down when it arrived at AUM. The witness reported that the pilots started the helicopter in order to depart, but soon shut the helicopter down again in order to put on additional fuel. At 1146, a total of 4.8 gallons of fuel was added at AUM. The witness, who had flown about 98 hours in a Robinson R-22, reported that he fueled the left main tank. He reported the helicopter sounded fine, and that there were no indications that anything was wrong with the helicopter. The flight departed AUM on its final leg of the cross
Probable cause
The loss of control due to the student pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision.
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Browse: Minnesota · Robinson aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
