- Date
- January 9, 2014, 15:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place
- Beaumont, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N994HVRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Defining event
- Landing: Dynamic rollover
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 13, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20140109000649A
- Case key
- 88657
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The student pilot not controlling the helicopter following a wind gust and the flight instructor's inadequate remedial action resulting in the helicopter rolling over on its side during a landing.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
For about 30 minutes, the flight instructor and his student pilot were practicing hovering and landings on a level concrete area. During the accident touchdown, a wind gust or wind shift occurred and the helicopter shifted sideways. The pilots felt the skids "catch" and the left side of the helicopter began to lift. The flight instructor called for and took control of the helicopter. The student pilot had not released his controls. The helicopter then rolled onto its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial tailboom damage. The pilot's accident report indicated that there were no helicopter mechanical malfunctions.
Factual narrative
For about 30 minutes, the flight instructor and his student pilot were practicing hovering and landings on a level concrete area. During the accident touchdown, a wind gust or wind shift occurred and the helicopter shifted sideways. The pilots felt the skids "catch" and the left side of the helicopter began to lift. The flight instructor called for and took control of the helicopter. The student pilot had not released his controls. The helicopter then rolled onto its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial tailboom damage. The pilot's accident report indicated that there were no helicopter mechanical malfunctions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N994HV
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (BETA)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0994
- Built
- 1989
- Airframe hours
- 11,342
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Heritage Helicopter Services LLC
- Registered owner
- Heritage Helicopter Services LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 5, 2013
- Departed
- BMT · Beaumont, TX
- Destination
- BMT · Beaumont, TX
- Airport
- BMT · Beaumont Muni
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 29
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 5, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 1,223.8 total · 570.2 in this make and model · 1,025.4 as pilot in command · 91.3 in the last 90 days · 30.8 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 45
- Injuries
- None
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 7 total · 7 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 7,500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- KBPT, 13 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.
Other investigations on N994HV · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.