# NTSB CEN11LA283: Robinson R22, N372LE, Lake Charles, LA, April 10, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 9, 2011, 22:30 local (Apr 10, 2011, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Lake Charles, LA - Coordinates: 30.123611, -93.223052 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1236&lon=-93.2231&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 12, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Baton Rouge FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78868 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA283 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78868/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78868 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA283 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of control of the helicopter while in a hover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) ## Analysis The helicopter was in a stabilized hover into the wind on the approach end of the runway for about 15 to 20 seconds. The pilot was preparing to move the cyclic forward to start the helicopter into forward flight when the nose began a slight uncommanded turn to the right. The pilot added more left pedal, but the helicopter quickly picked up momentum and speed until the helicopter was spinning out of control. The pilot then lowered the collective pitch lever and the helicopter struck the runway surface, resulting in substantial damage. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On March 9, 2011, about 2230 central daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, N372LE, was substantially damaged when it impacted the runway at Lake Charles Regional Airport (LCH), Lake Charles, Louisiana. The helicopter was registered to Bend Helicopter Partners, LLC., and operated by Performance Helicopters, LLC. Dark night marginal visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 solo training flight. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The local flight had originated about 2130. According to the pilot, he had been in a stabilized hover on the approach end of the runway for about 15 to 20 seconds. He was preparing to move the cyclic forward to start the helicopter into forward flight when the nose began a slight uncommanded turn to the right. The pilot added more left pedal, but the helicopter quickly picked up momentum and speed until the helicopter was spinning out of control. The pilot then lowered the collective pitch lever and the helicopter struck the runway surface. The tail rotor hub and both tail rotor blades separated and the main rotor blades and tail boom showed impact damage. The helicopter came to rest upright and there were numerous 360 degree swirl marks on the runway surface. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N372LE (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON R22 (BETA) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3272 - Airframe hours: 2399 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Performance Helicopters LLC - Registered owner: Bend Helicopter Partners LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: LCH, Lake Charles, LA - Destination: LCH, Lake Charles, LA - Airport: LCH, Lake Charles Regional Airport, runway 15, 6,500 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 3, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 268 total, 21 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 160° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KLCH ## 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 20110409006709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110409006709A), Apr 9, 2011: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Lake Charles, LA, Destroyed. Stabilized hover-pedal input to the right-left pedal did not have any effect, continued to turn violently to the right-pilot became scared and put aircraft… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 17, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78868. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382417&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383725&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Weather Summary (item 3, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382418&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Summary-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Helicopter showing marks on runway surface (Airport Operations Photo) (item 4, .PDF, 728 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382419&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Helicopter%20showing%20marks%20on%20runway%20surface%20%20(Airport%20Operations%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Close view of the rear end of the tail boom (Airport Operations Photo) (item 5, .PDF, 705 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382420&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Close%20view%20of%20the%20rear%20end%20of%20the%20tail%20boom%20%20(Airport%20Operations%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Showing damage to tail rotor mast and bell crank support arm (Operator's Photo) (item 6, .PDF, 964 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382422&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Showing%20damage%20to%20tail%20rotor%20mast%20and%20bell%20crank%20support%20arm%20%20(Operator%27s%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - Showing damage to tail boom (Operator's Photo) (item 7, .PDF, 808 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382421&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Showing%20damage%20to%20tail%20boom%20%20(Operator%27s%20Photo)-Master.PDF 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.