Comment on your own check ride post with information about questioned you were asked or different maneuvers you had to do in the flight practical.
NTSB Accident Report
On July 10, 2011, about 0910 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R22 BETA, N10786, operated by Ocean Helicopters Inc., was substantially damaged during an autorotation, following a system malfunction during initial climb from Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), West Palm Beach, Florida. The certified flight instructor (CFI) was not injured and the student pilot incurred minor injuries. The instructional flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the planned local flight, which departed PBI about 0840. According to the CFI, he and the student pilot performed five or six quick-stops. They then proceeded with a normal takeoff. About 200 feet above the ground, the helicopter yawed right, which was unable to be corrected with left pedal input. The CFI then entered an autorotation as the helicopter continued to yaw right. He also observed that the horizontal and vertical stabilizers had separated from the tailboom and were falling to the ground. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, a fuel cap separated and lodged in the tail rotor system, resulting in a loss of tail rotor thrust. The helicopter subsequently spun during the autorotation and landed hard. During the impact, the tail rotor separated and the fuselage sustained substantial damage.
Link
The fuel cap was not completely screwed on to the fuel tank, resulting in it falling off in flight and striking the tail rotor. This is easily preventable, but not so easily recoverable. So, make sure that not only both fuel caps are on the helicopter but that their torque stripes are lined up with the fuel tank.
Picture from Reference 1
Resources
Copter-Blog
This is a blog for better understanding of helicopter topics, like: aerodynamics, long
specific cross country planning, pre-flights of the Robinson Helicopters.
Blog created and managed by Adam Stockland, LEA instructor.
Here is a Link to copter blog
Company website
For some information about LEA’s flight school, maintenance facility, commercial operations, or aircraft sales, visit the company website.
Here is a Link to FlyBend.com
Also Flow Leading Edge on Facebook
Here is a Link to the Facebook page.
NTSB Accident Report
For a search query of reports accidents to the NTSB
Here is a Link to ntsb.gov
Weather Underground
For information on weather, visit this Link to wunderground.com
R22 Preflight written instructions, here is a good Link with pictures and text about a R22 preflight.
And this is the sublink that goes to and miscellaneous page with some really good information about the helicopter and components that aren't identified on the preflight check list.
References
1 http://www.cybercom.net/~copters/R22_Preflight/Cowl_Door/Cowl_Door.html
