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ATL84LA138

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NTSB accident investigation · Robinson R22A · Woodbridge, VA · April 3, 1984

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report

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Date
April 3, 1984, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
Place
Woodbridge, VA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N8415XRobinson R22A
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19840403008579A
Case key
6434

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightHover
Relinquishing of control - intentionalDual studentCause
Excessive workload (task overload)Pilot in command(cfi)Cause
Relinquishing of control - not correctedPilot in command(cfi)Cause
Cyclic - improper use ofDual studentCause
In flight collision with objectHover
Object - tree(s)Factor
Instructions,written/verbal - not followedDual studentCause
Remedial action - not performedPilot in command(cfi)Cause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

The CFI stated that while hovering with a prospective student pilot using the cyclic control, the student pushed rapidlyforward on the cyclic control. The instructor pilot (CFI) attempted to regain control but the acft struck a tree and crashed.

Aircraft

Registration
N8415X
Reported as
Robinson R22A
Category
Helicopter
Serial number
0358
Airframe hours
488
Engine
Lycoming O-320-B2C, 124 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Northeast Helicopters Inc.
Registered owner
Cgf Helicopters Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Airport
W22 · Woodbridge
N8415XRegistration cancelled Sep 20, 2013 · Robinson Helicopter R22S/N 0358 · Built 1983Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R22Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
26
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Flight hours
1,176 total · 452 in this make and model · 916 as pilot in command · 191 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
80° at 7 knots
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
25,000 ft broken
Temperature
57 °F
Altimeter
31.00 inHg
Observed at
IAD, 17 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19840403008579ARobsin R22 · Woodbridge, VADemo hovering. Student push forward on cylic. CFI tried recover. But helicopter struck a tree and crashed.Apr 3, 1984 · N8415X · Substantial damage