# Accident 20010523010039A: Robsin R22BETA, Rancho Calif, CA, May 23, 2001 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: May 23, 2001, 19:00 local time - Place: Rancho Calif, CA - Airport: French Valley Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 33.5693° N, 117.1395° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5693&lon=-117.1395&mi=10 - Aircraft: N2352G, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2352G-2012-08-30) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22BETA - Reported engine: LYC O320B2C - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Student - Pilot flight hours: 29 total, 29 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX01LA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA190) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010523010039A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19)ON MAY 23, 2001, AT 1900 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A ROBINSON R22B, N2352G, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT ROLLED OVER DURING LIFTOFF AT THE FRENCH VALLEY AIRPORT, MURIETTA, CALIFORNIA. THE STUDENT PILOT, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS UNINJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE STUDENT'S FIRST SOLO FLIGHT. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATED BY USA ACADEMY OF AVIATION, AND WAS RENTED BY THE STUDENT FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. THE HELICOPTER WAS DEPARTING FRENCH VALLEY FOR HOVER PRACTICE AT THE AIRPORT. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE INSTRUCTOR HAD JUST COMPLETED 30 MINUTES OF HOVER PRACTICE WITH THE STUDENT. THE STUDENT LANDED THE HELICOPTER AND THE INSTRUCTOR DEPLANED TO ALLOW THE STUDENT TO EXECUTE HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT. AS THE INSTRUCTOR WATCHED, THE STUDENT LIFTED OFF AND IMMEDIATELY ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED. ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTOR, THE STUDENT HAD APPLIED EXCESSIVE RIGHT CYCLIC, CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO ROLL DURING LIFTOFF. THE STUDENT HAD LOGGED APPROXIMATELY 27 HOURS OF DUAL INSTRUCTION IN THE R22 PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. (-23) THE ROBINSON R22B, N2352G, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT ROLLED OVER DURING LIFTOFF BY THIS STUDENT PILOT'S FIRST SOLO FLIGHT. THE INSTRUCTOR HAD JUST COMPLETED APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES OF HOVER PRACTICE WITH THE STUDENT. THEY WOULD LIFTOFF, THEN SET THE AIRCRAFT DOWN. THEY DID THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND THEN THE INSTRUCTOR GOT OUT AND ALLOWED THE STUDENT TO EXECUTE HIS FIRST SOLO HOVER. WHILE THE INSTRUCTOR WATCHED, THE STUDENT LIFTED OFF AND IMMEDIATELY ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED. (.4) THE INSTRUCTOR HAD JUST COMPLETED 30 MINUTES OF HOVER PRACTICE WITH THE STUDENT. THE STUDENT LANDED THE HELICOPTER AND THE INSTRUCTOR DEPLANED TO ALLOW THE STUDENT TO EXECUTE HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT. AS THE INSTRUCTOR WATCHED, THE STUDENT BEGAN TO LIFTOFF AND IMMEDIATELY ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED. ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTOR, THE HELICOPTER NEVER LEFT THE GROUND. THE STUDENT HAD LOGGED APPROXIMATELY 29 HOURS OF DUAL INSTRUCTION IN THE R22 PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT HE HAD DONE MANY PICKUPS AND SET DOWNS WITH THE STUDENT JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. HE EMPHASIZED THE DIFFERENCES IN FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS THAT THE STUDENT WOULD EXPERIENCE WHEN THE INSTRUCTOR WAS NOT IN THE HELICOPTER. HE EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD COVERED DYNAMIC ROLLOVER SITUATIONS IN GROUND SCHOOL SESSIONS, INCLUDING A ROBINSON FACTORY TRAINING VIDEOTAPE ON THE SUBJECT. THE INSTRUCTOR NORMALLY OCCUPIED THE LEFT SEAT OF THE HELICOPTER DURING DUAL LESSONS. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE STUDENT WAS OCCUPYING THE RIGHT SEAT, AND THE LEFT SEAT WAS EMPTY. THE SOLO FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED ON AN ASPHALT HELICOPTER LANDING PAD. INSPECTORS FROM THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF PREACCIDENT MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE HELIPAD WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND TO BE CLEAN, SMOOTH, AND FREE OF OBSTRUCTIONS. THE INSTRUCTOR WEIGHED 185 POUNDS, AND THE HELICOPTER HAD CONSUMED 30 POUNDS OF FUEL PRIOR TO THE ATTEMPTED SOLO FLIGHT. THIS MADE THE HELICOPTER 215 POUNDS LIGHTER THAN THE STUDENT WAS ACCUSTOMED TO. IF THE STUDENT DID NOT EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION TO LIFTOFF VERY SLOWLY AND DELIBERATELY, WITH THE CYCLIC CENTERED, A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER WOULD BE VERY LIKELY TO OCCUR. WITH AN EXCESSIVE INPUT OF COLLECTIVE, THE HELICOPTER AT A LIGHT TAKEOFF WEIGHT AND THE CYCLIC EVEN SLIGHTLY OFF CENTER, THE ROLL WOULD BE EXTREMELY RAPID AND NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ARREST. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB LAX01LA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA190), May 24, 2001: Robinson R22B (N2352G), Murietta, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The solo student's improper use of the flight controls that resulted in a dynamic rollover during the attempted takeoff. ## Other reports on N2352G (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19931022048309I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931022048309I), Oct 22, 1993: Robsin R22BETA (N2352G), Sun Valley, CA. Made emergency landing in open field due to low fuel light flickering. Landed without incidnt. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.