# NTSB ATL07CA046: Robinson R-44, N448BP, Covington, GA, February 26, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 26, 2007, 09:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Covington, GA - Coordinates: 33.62611, -83.843055 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6261&lon=-83.8431&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65339 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07CA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65339/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07CA046 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during liftoff, which resulted in an in-flight collision with the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - out of ground effect - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The student pilot lost control of the helicopter after takeoff during his first solo flight and struck the ground in uncontrolled flight. According to the student pilot, "I lifted off and obtained a stable hover. As I started forward in the helicopter, it started to gyrate. I remember coming down in the grassy area at the entrance to the airport. The main rotor blades struck the ground. The next thing I remember is the Air Rescue people working to get me out of the helicopter." The Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), stated that this was the student pilot's first solo flight. The student pilot and the CFI had been doing dual flight instruction for about 45 minutes prior to the accident. Following the dual instruction the CFI ask the student pilot if he "felt good about a solo, and he stated yes". The student pilot lifted off with a "slight bobble" to about a five foot hover and seemed to recover from the "bobble". The CFI was in communication with the student by 2-way radio. The student lifted the helicopter upward and the helicopter started to gyrate erratically, gradually moving northbound. The student lost control and the helicopter struck the ground approximately 150 yards from the liftoff spot. Examination of the helicopter by an FAA inspector found that the helicopter struck the ground in a nose down attitude, substantially damaging the main rotors and cockpit. There were no mechanical problems reported by the student pilot or discovered during the post-accident examination of the helicopter. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot, "I lifted off and obtained a stable hover. As I started forward in the helicopter, it started to gyrate. I remember coming down in the grassy area at the entrance to the airport. The main rotor blades struck the ground. The next thing I remember is the Air Rescue people working to get me out of the helicopter." According to the Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), this was the student pilot's first solo flight. The student pilot and the CFI had been doing dual flight instruction for about 45 minutes prior to the accident. Following the dual instruction the CFI asked the student pilot if he "felt good about a solo, and he stated yes". The student pilot lifted off with a "slight bobble" to about a five foot hover and seemed to recover from the "bobble". The CFI was in communication with the student by 2-way radio. The student lifted the helicopter upward and the helicopter started to gyrate erratically, gradually moving northbound. The student lost control and the helicopter struck the ground approximately 150 yards from the liftoff spot. Shortly after the accident emergency personnel arrived and provided medical assistance to the student pilot. A witness stated that the R-44, lifted off from the taxiway. After lift off it appeared to "wobble" then the pilot got control of the R-44. He then lifted more and flew north. At approximately 120-feet above the ground the helicopter seemed to pitch nose up and then nose down and then flew into the ground. Examination of the helicopter by an FAA inspector found that the helicopter struck the ground in a nose down attitude, substantially damaging the main rotors and cockpit. There were no mechanical problems reported by the student pilot or discovered during the post-accident examination of the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N448BP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N448BP-2007-05-19), registration cancelled 2007-05-19, S/N 10379, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R-44 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640122) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 10379 - Airframe hours: 679.7 - Engines: Lycoming IO-550-AE1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Blue Ridge Helicopters Inc. - Registered owner: Heliflight LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 1, 2006, 79.7 hours before - Departed: 9A1, Covington, GA - Destination: 9A1, Covington, GA - Airport: 9A1, Covington Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 56; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 67 total, 67 in this make and model, 29 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: PDK ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070226001899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070226001899A), Feb 26, 2007: Robsin R44RAVENII, Covington, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) On 02/26/07, N448BP, helicopter, Robinson, R-44-II, was involved in an accident at Covington Municipal Airport (9A1). The pilot was performing a solo… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.