# Accident 20190502003799A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Lincoln Park, NJ, May 2, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 2, 2019, 15:38 local time
- Place: Lincoln Park, NJ
- Airport: Lincoln Park
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.9475° N, 74.3144° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9475&lon=-74.3144&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7532R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7532R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (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 R22 BETA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,513 total, 506 in this make and model, 77 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR19TA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19TA131) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190502003799A

## Narrative

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

ON 5/2/2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 1538 EDT, THE HELICOPTER WAS ON AN INTRODUCTION FLIGHT FOR A NEW PROSPECTIVE STUDENT. AFTER THE SHORT FLIGHT THE HELICOPTER MADE AN APPROACH TO LANDING OVER THE GRASS ON THE WEST SIDE OF RUNWAY 1/19 AND TURNED TO THE RIGHT TO MAKE A 180 DEGREE TURN TO RETURN TO PARKING AREA. THE PILOT STATED THE LOW ROTOR LIGHT AND HORN ACTIVATED AND THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO SPIN AND CAME TO REST ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF AIRCRAFT IN THE GRASS ON WEST SIDE OF RUNWAY.  THE EMPENNAGE/TAIL ROTOR HUB WAS DETACHED AND RESTING APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN FEET AWAY FROM THE FUSELAGE. THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES WERE DETACHED AND LOCATED WITHIN APPROXIMATELY TEN FEET OF THE WRECKAGE.

WHEN QUESTIONED, THE PILOT AND PASSENGER STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS 10 TO 15 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, HOWEVER, REVIEW OF AIRPORT VIDEO SHOWS THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS ACTUALLY 2.5 TO 3 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND.  DURING THE TURN TO THE RIGHT, IT DID NOT APPEAR THAT THE AIRCRAFT HOVERED BUT THAT THE FRONT OF THE HELICOPTER PITCHED UP TO BLEED OFF AIRSPEED. THE NEXT SECOND OF THE VIDEO SHOWS THE HELICOPTER ON ITS SIDE. THERE ARE TWO STRIKE MARKS ON THE GROUND AND DIRT ON THE DETACHED BLADES THAT INDICATE THAT THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND. ALL OTHER INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING NORMALLY PRIOR TO THE TAIL STRIKE.

## 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 WPR19TA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19TA131), May 2, 2019: Robinson R22 (N7532R), Lincoln Park, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while transitioning from a hover to forward flight, which resulted in a loss of control.

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.

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