ATL84FA045

Factual narrative

DURING HIS 2ND SOLO FLT IN THE ROBINSON R22, THE PLT PERFORMED 2 LOW 'G' MANEUVERS. THE 1ST MANEUVER WAS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS WHEN HE PRACTICED IT DURING A CHECK-OUT FLT. HOWEVER, THE 2ND MANEUVER PRODUCED A RAPID RIGHT ROLL TO APRX 60 DEG OF BANK. THE PLT RECOVERED IN A DESCENDING RIGHT TURN. AFTER RECOVERY, THE ACFT SEEMED TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY. BEFORE LANDING, HE PRACTICED AN AUTOROTATIVE APCH TO A POWER ON RECOVERY WITHOUT TOUCHING DOWN. SEVERAL LANDING WERE MADE, BUT HE STATED ALL TOUCHDOWNS WERE NORMAL. A POST FLT INSPECTION REVEALED THE MAIN ROTOR SPINDLES HAD BUMPED THE MAST AT THE TEETERING STOPS, RESULTING IN DENTS UP TO .045 TO .50 INCH IN THE MAST. ALSO, THE MAIN ROTOR SPINDLE ARMS (HORNS) HAD CONTACTED THE DROOP STOPS, SHEARING THE DROOP STOP RETAINER BOLT & BENDING THE SPINDLE HORNS. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE DROOP STOP/BOLT DAMAGE COULD ONLY OCCUR DURING A HARD LANDING OR NEGATIVE 'G' FLT. THE FLT MANUAL & SAFETY NOTICE #11 WARNS: RECOVERY FROM ROLL DUE TO LOW 'G' MUST BEGIN WITH AFT CYCLIC FIRST TO PREVENT MAST BUMPING. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12