# Accident 20241221021039A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Springfield, MO, December 21, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 21, 2024, 15:00 local time
- Place: Springfield, MO
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.0000° N, 93.0000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0000&lon=-93.0000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3104U, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3104U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (registry code 42314, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-j2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-J2A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,300 total, 27 in this make and model, 58 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA063) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241221021039A

## Narrative

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

THIS WAS STUDENT PILOT’S FIRST SOLO FLIGHT.  THE FLIGHT WAS FROM 3DW AND BEGAN AT APPROXIMATELY 14:20 CST WITH ONE CIRCUIT IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN WITH THE CFI.  THE STUDENT PILOT THEN SET DOWN NEAR THE FBO BUILDING AND LET THE CFI OUT OF THE HELICOPTER.  STUDENT PILOT THEN LIFTED OFF SOLO, DID SOME HOVER AND HOVER TAXI PRACTICE FOR APPOXIMATELY 10 MINUTES OVER THE GRASS AREA NORTH OF RUNWAY 11/29 BEFORE DOING THREE ADDITIONAL CIRCUITS IN A RIGHT TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 11.  STUDENT THEN RETURNED TO THE GRASS AREA AND DID MORE HOVER AND HOVER TAXI PRACTICE UNTIL THE WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP DUE TO THE LOW AIRFLOW THROUGH THE CABIN.  STUDENT SET THE HELICOPTER DOWN ON THE GRASS AREA IN ORDER TO TURN ON THE WINDSHIELD DEFOG BLOWER FAN, BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE THE COLLECTIVE FRICTION OR ROLL DOWN THE THROTTLE.  THE STUDENT PILOT HAD NEVER USED THE BLOWER SWITCH HIMSELF AND IT TOOK A SECOND OR TWO TO LOCATE IT.  (THE BLOWER FAN SWITCH IS LOCATED NEAR THE FLOOR BETWEEN THE PILOT’S LEGS.)  WHEN THE STUDENT PILOT LOOKED BACK UP AFTER TURNING ON THE SWITCH, THE HELICOPTER HAD ROLLED APPROXIMATELY 25 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES IMMEDIATELY IMPACTED THE GROUND.  THE HELICOPTER WRECKAGE ENDED UP LYING ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE MIXTURE WAS THEN PULLED OUT (OFF) AND MAG SWITCH TURNED OFF BY THE STUDENT PILOT BEFORE EXITING THE WRECKAGE.  THE FUEL VALVE COULD NOT BE REACHED BECAUSE OF THE HELICOPTER LAYING ON ITS LEFT SIDE, SO IT REMAINED IN THE “ON” POSITION.  THERE WAS NO FIRE OR DAMAGE TO OTHER PROPERTY.

## 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 CEN25LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA063), Dec 21, 2024: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N3104U), Springfield, MO, destroyed. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter while turning on the blower fan switch after landing that resulted in a dynamic rollover sequence.

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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