Pilot Debrief

ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA near Pearland, TX — 2024-10-27

Final reportCEN25LA031
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Date
2024-10-27
Location
Pearland, TX, USA
Airport
LVJ
Aircraft
ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
Registration
N7521Z
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during lift off.

NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he increased engine power to lift off and initiated a pedal turn toward the adjacent taxiway. He recalled that the helicopter made a “violent lurch” to the right, so he lowered the collective abruptly but that did not seem to make any difference. He did not remember anything further. Airport surveillance video footage captured the helicopter lift off and translate a short distance to the right. The right skid appeared to contact the ground again, and the helicopter immediately began rotating to the right. This was accompanied by dramatic pitch oscillations. The aft portion of the tailboom impacted the paved ramp surface, and the tailboom and empennage separated. Rotation of the helicopter continued until it collided with a nearby parked airplane. The helicopter sustained damage to both main rotor blades, the tailboom, tail rotor assembly, and the empennage. An examination helicopter did not reveal any preimpact anomalies consistent with an inability to maintain control of the helicopter. A review of the surveillance video indicated that the helicopter began a dynamic rollover when the right skid dragged on the ground immediately after lifting off. Based on the response of the helicopter, the pilot likely increased collective pitch to increase height but did not provide sufficient left anti-torque pedal input to counter the increased torque. The pilot was unable to regain control of the helicopter before it impacted the ground.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff after initial violent lurch.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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