# Accident 20230809013769A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Sevierville, TN, August 9, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 9, 2023, 10:03 local time
- Place: Sevierville, TN
- Airport: Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.8582° N, 83.5300° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8582&lon=-83.5300&mi=10
- Aircraft: N798MG, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N798MG) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-360-A1D (registry code 41504, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-360-A1D
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 255 total, 198 in this make and model, 77 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA358](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA358) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230809013769A

## Narrative

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

ROUGHLY 3 FEET OFF THE GROUND THE INSTRUCTOR WAS PRACTICING HOVER AUTOS WITH THE STUDENT. UPON ENTRY WITH THROTTLE OFF THE AIRCRAFT STARTED YAWING LEFT AND THEIR DECENT WAS FASTER THAN EXPECTED. THE STUDENT PULLED UP ON THE COLLECTIVE TO KEEP THEM FROM HITTING THE GROUND TOO ABRUBPTLY. AS THEY WERE COMING LEFT, HE PUSHED THE RIGHT PEDAL TO COUNTER ACT THE LEFT YAW AND THEY STARTED GOING BACK TO WHERE THEY ENTERED THE AUTO HOVER. BEFORE THEY GOT BACK TO THE ENTRY POINT, HE STARTED PUSHING THE LEFT PEDAL TO STOP THE YAW AND IT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. AT THAT POINT THEY CONDITINUED TO RAISE IN ALTITUDE AND SPIN. THE INSTRUCTOR CLAIMED CONTROLS AND RECOMMENDED ROLLING THE THROTTLE ON BECUASE IT WAS CURRENTLY 50-60 %. THEY CONTINUED TO RISE IN ALTITUDE WHILE THE INSTRUCTOR TRIED TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. WITHOUT THE THROTTLE BEING ABLE TO COME BACK ON TO GET THE TAIL ROTOR THRUSTING AGAIN, THE INSTRUCTOR TRIED TO MAINTAIN A LEVEL ATTITUDE UNTIL IT HIT THE GROUND.

## 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 CEN23LA358](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA358), Aug 9, 2023: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N798MG), Sevierville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s improper flight control inputs during the practice hovering autorotation that resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain.

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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