# Accident 20231028018349A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Ronkonkoma, NY, October 28, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 28, 2023, 09:46 local time
- Place: Ronkonkoma, NY
- Airport: Long Island Mac Arthur
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.7961° N, 73.1007° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7961&lon=-73.1007&mi=10
- Aircraft: N964SH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N964SH) (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: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,800 total, 1,900 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA028) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231028018349A

## Narrative

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

ON 10/28/2023 INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND STUDENT PILOT WERE CONDUCTING PRACTICE HOVER IN WEST SOD AREA AT ISP. STUDENT WAS HAVING DIFFICULTLY MANAGING CONTROLS, INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROLS FROM THE STUDENT TO DEMONSTRATE CONTROL CORRELATION AT 3-5 FT HOVER. STUDENT DID ALSO HAVE HANDS ON THE CONTROLS WITH INSTRUCTOR IN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER.  DURING THE DEMONSTRATION THE RIGHT AFT PORTION OF SKID STRUCK THE SOD CAUSING DYANMIC ROLLOVER.

INSTRUCTOR SHUT HELICOPTER DOWN, AND ASSISTED STUDENT IN EXITING THE HELICOPTER. MINOR INJURIES SCRATCHES / CUTS WERE NOTED BY AIRPORT EMERGENCY RESPONDERS, BOTH INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT REFUSED MEDICAL TREATMENT.

THE HELICOPTER WAS FOUND TO HAVE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WITH MAIN ROTOR BLADES BROKEN ABOUT MID SPAN FROM STRIKING GROUND. MAST ASSEMBLY WAS BROKEN AWAY FROM ITS MOUNTING, DAMAGE TO COCKPIT CANOPY BUBBLE, COCKPIT CENTER CONSOLE WAS BROKEN AWAY FROM ITS MOUNTS, TAIL BOOM BENT.

INSTRUCTOR PILOT WILL RECEIVE COUNSELING ON PROPER MANAGEMENT OF HELICOPTER CONTROLS DURING LOW ALTITUDE OPERATIONS.

## 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 ERA24LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA028), Oct 28, 2023: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N964SH), Ronkonkoma, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s abrupt control input and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action, 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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