NTSB Factual Report

On October 2, 2004, about 1630 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R-22 helicopter, N220CK, registered to and operated by Helicopters of America, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, made a hard landing at Pompano Beach Airpark, Pompano Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated flight instruction and student received minor injuries, and the helicopter incurred substantial damage. The flight originated at Pompano Beach, Florida, the same day, about 1625.

The flight instructor stated that he and his student had been flying for about an hour prior to the accident. He further stated that they were on their fourth or fifth autorotation, and it looked as if they were going to overshoot the spot of intended landing, so they performed some "S" turns, and initiated a flare. He said during the flare the helicopter continued to descend, and it impacted the ground on the rear of the skids, severing the tail boom.

NTSB Probable Cause

The flight crew's excessive descent rate during landing, resulting in a hard landing, and the tail boom being severed.