# NTSB CEN22LA158: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N7087X, Garnett, KS, March 26, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 26, 2022, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Garnett, KS
- Coordinates: 38.277306, -95.215222 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2773&lon=-95.2152&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231)
- 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: Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104852
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA158
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104852/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104852
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA158

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control while hovering which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

## 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: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); 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

After refueling the helicopter, the pilot entered into a light hover to return to his hangar. Due to obstacles on the left side of the helicopter, the pilot attempted to hover taxi horizontally to the right. While executing this maneuver, the right skid contacted the ramp and the helicopter entered into a dynamic rollover and came to rest on its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7087X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7087X-2023-09-16), registration cancelled 2023-09-16, S/N 2829 (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 O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2829
- Year built: 1998
- Airframe hours: 1798
- Engines: Lycoming O-360 145 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 3, 2021
- Departed: K68, Garnett, KS
- Destination: K68, Garnett, KS
- Airport: K68, Garnett Municipal Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review July 11, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,115 total, 293 in this make and model, 5,647 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: KUKL, 24 nm away
- METAR: KUKL 262135Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 15/M12 A3009 RMK AO2 T01461116

## 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 20220326003309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220326003309A), Mar 26, 2022: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Garnett, KS, Substantial damage. On March 26, 2022 at approx. 1630 local, N7087X experienced a dynamic roll over to the right during a hover maneuver on the ramp at the Garnett, KS airport…

## Other investigations on N7087X (1)

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.

- [NTSB FTW01LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA124), May 18, 2001: Robinson R22 (N7087X), Raymondville, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the main rotor drive belts while maneuvering which resulted in a loss of main rotor drive. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104852. 1.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13590638&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot interview (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13688812&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Interview%20w%20Pilot-Rel.pdf
- Photo of helicopter (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13591059&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20of%20Helicopter-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.