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N720RJ accident description

Maine map... Maine list
Crash location 43.389444°N, 70.704722°W
Nearest city Sanford, ME
43.424249°N, 70.758391°W
3.6 miles away
Tail number N720RJ
Accident date 28 May 2006
Aircraft type Robinson R-22
Additional details: None

NTSB Factual Report

The flight instructor was demonstrating air-taxi maneuvers to the student pilot in a Robinson R-22 helicopter. The instructor slowed the helicopter to about 10 knots ground speed in a descending turn, and oriented the helicopter such that it experienced a tailwind. As the helicopter "settled", the pilot attempted to arrest the descent, but could not, and leveled the helicopter prior to a hard landing. The landing gear subsequently collapsed, the helicopter rolled over, and the main rotor blades contacted the ground. The instructor reported that there were no deficiencies with the performance or handling characteristics of the helicopter.

NTSB Probable Cause

The flight instructor's inadvertent encounter with settling-with-power, which resulted in a hard landing, and subsequent roll-over. A factor in the accident was the tailwind.

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