# NTSB ATL90LA112: Robinson R22 Beta, N2579W, Chamblee, GA, May 11, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 11, 1990, 09:55 local (13:55 UTC)
- Place: Chamblee, GA
- Coordinates: 33.900398, -84.299766 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9004&lon=-84.2998&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8238
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90LA112
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8238/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90LA112

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE STUDENT (RATED) PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER, AND INSUFFICIENT SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI).

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Roll over, landing
  - autorotation - performed, dual student
  - aircraft control - not maintained, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WAS FOR RECURRENT TRAINING OF THE HELICOPTER RATED STUDENT PILOT. TWO HOVERING AUTOROTATIONS HAD BEEN COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY WITH THE INSTRUCTOR FOLLOWING THE STUDENT ON THE CONTROLS. THE INSTRUCTOR THEN INFORMED THE STUDENT THAT THE NEXT ONE WAS HIS, COMPLETELY. THE STUDENT PILOT BROUGHT THE HELICOPTER TO AN APPROXIMATELY EIGHTEEN INCH HOVER, TURNED INTO THE WIND, AND AFTER THE COUNT OF THREE, ROLLED OFF THE THROTTLE. THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO ROTATE TO THE LEFT, WHEN IT TOUCHED DOWN WITH ONE SKID, THEN IT ROLLED OVER ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE INSTRUCTOR'S EXPERIENCE OF 9032 HOURS INCLUDED 2703 HOURS AS INSTRUCTOR IN THE R22. THE STUDENT'S EXPERIENCE OF 134 HOURS INCLUDED 65 HOURS IN THE R22.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2579W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2579W-2006-11-09), registration cancelled 2006-11-09, S/N 0630 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R22 BETA
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 630
- Airframe hours: 1925
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Prestige Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner: Fast, E.W. Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 4, 1990, 53 hours before
- Airport: PDK, Dekalb-Peachtree, runway 16, 3,966 × 150 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 9,032 total, 3,436 in this make and model, 8,587 as pilot in command, 211 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point -0 °F
- 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 19900511016499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900511016499A), May 11, 1990: Robsin R22BETA, Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. Student failed to use proper control for practice hover autorotation. Skid touched in a turn. Helicopter rolled over

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.

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