# Accident 20220523008219A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Nashua, NH, May 23, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 23, 2022, 11:00 local time
- Place: Nashua, NH
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.7824° N, 71.5207° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7824&lon=-71.5207&mi=10
- Aircraft: N666U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N666U-2023-06-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 10,560 total, 8,560 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA22LA236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA236) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220523008219A

## Narrative

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

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION TO THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^STUDENT IN THE R44. ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY, THE STUDENT WAS WORKING ON PICK UP AND TOUCHDOWNS WHILE IN THE NON-MOVEMENT AREA IN FRONT OF CR HELICOPTERS AT THE NASHUA AIRPORT. AFTER TWO SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS AT PICKING UP AND TOUCHING DOWN, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTION EXPLAINED TO THE STUDENT THAT HE WAS USING TOO FIRM OF A GRIP ON THE CYCLIC AND COLLECTIVE. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOOK THE CONTROLS TO DEMONSTRATION A METHOD HE CALLED ?CUPPING? TO HAVE A LIGHTER FEEL ON THE CONTROLS. IN DOING SO, HE PLACED THE STUDENT?S COLLECTIVE IN HIS RIGHT HAND AND HIS CYCLIC IN THE LEFT HAND, PURPOSELY CROSS-CONTROLLING. WHILE CROSS-CONTROLLED, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED A PICK-UP, WHERE HE QUICKLY LOST CONTROL RESULTING IN THE HELICOPTER BANKING TOO FAR TO THE LEFT AND CAUSING A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER. THE DYNAMIC ROLLOVER AGAINST THE PAVEMENT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER.

## 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 ERA22LA236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA236), May 23, 2022: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N666U), Nashua, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during the takeoff, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

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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