Pilot Debrief

ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA near Murrieta, CA — 2012-07-09

Final reportWPR12FA298
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Date
2012-07-09
Location
Murrieta, CA, USA
Aircraft
ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
Registration
N7527Y
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Hover

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from high vegetation while making a hovering turn, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

NTSB narrative

During an instructional flight, the student pilot reported that the instructor was demonstrating a “fast landing” approach to a hill. The instructor subsequently positioned the helicopter in a 3- to 4-foot hover above the ground and heading into the wind, then initiated a left pedal turn and started to lift off. The student stated that the helicopter suddenly rolled rapidly to the right and the main rotor blades contacted the ground, which resulted in a rollover. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The terrain surrounding the accident site was covered with sporadic patches of sagebrush ranging from 1 to 4 feet high. It is likely that the helicopter contacted brush as the pilot performed the left hovering turn, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Instructor could have chosen a safer landing approach or location.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents32

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