# NTSB CEN14CA017: Robinson R22 - Beta, N554SA, Chicago, IL, October 2, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 2, 2013, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Chicago, IL - Coordinates: 41.534999, -87.529441 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5350&lon=-87.5294&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 4, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 88293 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88293/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88293 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA017 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to take remedial action in a timely manner. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640110), [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: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 85 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated they had been practicing hovering for about 30 minutes, and were about two feet above the ground. He recalled that he was "controlling the cyclic and maybe the collective, but not the pedals." The flight instructor thought they were three to five feet above the ground. The helicopter experienced a pendular motion and began traveling backwards and to the right. The right skid made contact with the ground, which resulted in the tail impacting the ground and the helicopter rolling onto its side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor. ## Factual narrative The student pilot stated they had been practicing hovering for about 30 minutes, and were about two feet above the ground. He recalled that he was "controlling the cyclic and maybe the collective, but not the pedals." The flight instructor thought they were three to five feet above the ground. The helicopter experienced a pendular motion and began traveling backwards and to the right. The right skid made contact with the ground, which resulted in the tail impacting the ground and the helicopter rolling onto its side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N554SA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N554SA-2018-10-23), registration cancelled 2018-10-23, S/N 1618, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON R22 - BETA (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: 1618 - Year built: 1990 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Sun Aero Helicopters INC - Registered owner: Sun Aero Helicopters INC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: IGQ, Chicago, IL - Destination: IGQ, Chicago, IL - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: IGQ, Lansing Muni ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 45; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, unknown; flight hours: 3 total, 3 in this make and model - Flight instructor; age 28; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, unknown; last flight review March 30, 2012; flight hours: 507 total, 242 in this make and model, 44 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: IGQ ## 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 20131002019369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131002019369A), Oct 2, 2013: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Lansing, IL, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Stated that he was giving instruction to [privacy data omitted], a student pilot with 2.5 hours of flight experience. They had been… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88293. 43 KB in all. - Student Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403374&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Instructor Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403378&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Instructor%20Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.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.