# Accident 20110410006759A: Robinson Helicopter Company R22, Marlboro, MA, April 10, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 10, 2011, 10:00 local time
- Place: Marlboro, MA
- Airport: Marlboro Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.3392° N, 71.5053° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3392&lon=-71.5053&mi=10
- Aircraft: N791SH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N791SH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 (registry code 7640102, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R22
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 250 total, 29 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11CA235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA235) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110410006759A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE STUDENT, AN AIRPLANE RATED PRIVATE PILOT, WAS ON HIS FOURTH SOLO FLIGHT. THIS WAS HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT WITH THE FUEL TANKS FULL, RESULTING IN A CENTER OF GRAVITY WITHIN LIMITS, BUT NEAR THE AFT LIMITS. THE STUDENT LIGHTENED THE LOAD ON THE HELICOPTER SKIDS TWICE IN ORDER TO "FEEL" THE BALANCE AND ADJUST THE CONTROL INPUTS. THE STUDENT THEN LIFTED THE AIRCRAFT INTO A HOVER, AND STARTED TO DRIFT AFT, TAIL LOW. THE STINGER AND TAILROTOR STRUCK THE SURFACE AND THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO YAW SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE RIGHT. THE HELICOPTER PROCEEDED AROUND ABOUT 360 DEGREES UNTIL THE STUDENT REDUCED COLLECTIVE, LANDING BACK ON THE RAMP AREA. DAMAGE WAS VISUALLY EVIDENT TO THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES, STINGER AND LOWER VERTICAL STABILIZER.

## 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 ERA11CA235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA235), Apr 10, 2011: Robinson R22 (N791SH), Marlboro, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

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.