# NTSB CEN22LA041: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N221HG, Miamisburg, OH, November 19, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 19, 2021, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Miamisburg, OH · Ramp
- Coordinates: 39.588972, -84.224861 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5890&lon=-84.2249&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Cincinnati FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104280
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA041
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104280/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104280
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA041

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a low-altitude hover shortly after liftoff.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/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: [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)

## Analysis

The solo student pilot reported that, just after liftoff and in a low-altitude hover, the helicopter “swung” to the left. The student pilot reported that he “overcorrected” with right pedal and aft cyclic inputs. The helicopter began to spin, and the student pilot pulled up to keep from hitting the ground. The student pilot reported remembering hitting the ground and rolling the throttle off. A security video showed that shortly after the helicopter lifted off into a low altitude hover it yawed left about 90° and descended before it moved aft and momentarily out of the camera’s view. When it reemerged, the helicopter was in a right spin and impacted the ramp in an upright attitude. The aft tail boom and tail rotor sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. There was another small helicopter operating near the accident helicopter at the time of the accident, however it is unlikely that the rotor wash from the other helicopter would have precluded the student pilot’s ability to maintain control his helicopter.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N221HG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N221HG), registered now, S/N 2197, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Robinson Helicopter 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: 2197
- Year built: 1992
- Airframe hours: 6066.3
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 124 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Higher Ground Helicopters of Cincinnati LLC
- Registered owner: Higher Ground Helicopters of Cincinnati LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 12, 2021
- Departed: MGY, Miamisburg, OH
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: MGY, Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 48 total, 48 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.53 inHg
- Observed at: MGY
- METAR: KMGY 191653Z AUTO 01008KT 10SM CLR 04/M06 A3053 RMK AO2 SLP347 T00391056

## 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 20211119019669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211119019669A), Nov 19, 2021: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Miamisburgh, OH, Substantial damage. On 11/19/2021, the student pilot operating N221HG during solo operations had a loss of control after lifting the aircraft off the ramp area. The pilot…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 10, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104280. 28.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 893 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13964922&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20Pilot%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Helicopter logbook (excerpts) (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 391 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13965258&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20Helicopter%20Logbook%20(Excerpts)_Redacted_Print-Rel.pdf
- Weather data (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13965231&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20-%20Weather-Rel.pdf
- Security video (item 4, MP4, 25.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13965413&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=04%20-%20Security%20Video-Rel.mp4
- Photos (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 962 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13965673&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=05%20-%20Photos-Rel.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.