Pilot Debrief

ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R22 MARINER near Parrottsville, TN — 2024-11-13

Final reportERA25LA046
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Date
2024-11-13
Location
Parrottsville, TN, USA
Aircraft
ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R22 MARINER
Registration
N178EP
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a precautionary, off-airport landing to sloping terrain.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot of the helicopter stated she was flying on her first solo cross-county flight. She flew to the first destination airport, which was about 30 minutes away, and made three uneventful approaches to land before departing the airspace and fly to another airport and practice some more approaches. She stated that about 15 minutes out from the next airport, she was having problems getting the correct frequency dialed into the radio and the helicopter felt “light” on the controls. She further described that the engine was running normally and all engine controls were functioning as expected. She then decided to make a precautionary landing in a field. During landing, she was focused on the helicopter’s instruments, did not look outside at the ground, and did not notice the field was slopped. One of the helicopter’s skids contacted the ground with a sideways motion, and the helicopter began to spin. The tail rotor subsequently contacted the ground and the helicopter rolled over on its left side resulting in substantial damage to the tail rotor and tail boom. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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