Pilot Debrief

ROBINSON R22 near Linden, NJ — 2017-05-20

Final reportERA17CA187
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Date
2017-05-20
Location
Linden, NJ, USA
Airport
LDJ
Aircraft
ROBINSON R22
Registration
N2322Z
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Hover

Probable cause

The flight instructor's failure to maintain helicopter control while hovering, which resulted in skid contact with the ground and a dynamic roll-over.

NTSB narrative

The helicopter flight instructor stated that he was providing the student pilot with his first introductory flight in a helicopter. The flight instructor was holding the dual controls lightly while the student pilot practiced hovering. The helicopter was hovering over a concrete area on the airport and had drifted over grass. The flight instructor then told the student pilot to hover back over the concrete. As the helicopter was proceeding back to the concrete, the student pilot made an abrupt movement on the cyclic to the right, and the right skid contacted an unknown object, which caused a dynamic roll-over. The student pilot's written account was similar, except he stated that the flight instructor had taken control of the helicopter and was hovering toward the concrete when a sudden downward push of wind caused a forceful movement to the right. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the right skid had contacted the ground, which resulted in a dynamic rollover and substantial damage to the main rotor blades and fuselage. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were noted nor did the pilots report any. The wind at the airport was recorded as calm about the time of the accident.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Instructor could have intervened more decisively to prevent abrupt cyclic movement.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents4

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