# NTSB CEN23LA219: Robinson Helicopter R44, N7102Z, Pontiac, MI, May 31, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 31, 2023, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Pontiac, MI · Airport
- Coordinates: 42.665636, -83.420506 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6656&lon=-83.4205&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: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA East Michigan FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192275
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA219
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192275/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192275
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA219

## Probable cause

The flight crew’s inadequate compensation for gusting wind, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in impact with the ground.

## 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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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 R44, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-hover: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-hover: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)

## Analysis

A flight instructor and a private pilot receiving instruction were performing a hovering maneuver as part of a flight lesson. During an exchange of the flight controls, a gust of wind moved the helicopter backward. The flight instructor reassumed control of the helicopter, but the tail rotor assembly struck the ground and separated from the helicopter. He then performed a hovering autorotation, the helicopter landed upright on its skids and the occupants egressed the helicopter without injury. The ground strike resulted in substantial damage to the tailboom assembly. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7102Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7102Z), registered now, S/N 2309, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-540-F1B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-f1b5) (registry code 42353, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2309
- Year built: 2013
- Airframe hours: 146.24
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-F1B5 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Michigan Helicopters LLC, doing business as N/A
- Registered owner: Michigan Helicopters LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 2023, 42.5 hours before
- Departed: PTK, Waterford, MI
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: PTK, Oakland County Intl, runway 9R/27L, 6,521 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 44; injuries: none; remote, commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 18, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 9,165 total, 6,675 in this make and model
- Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 235 total, 235 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 6 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: KPTK
- METAR: KPTK 311753Z 17006G16KT 10SM FEW070 29/11 A3012 RMK SLPNO

## 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 20230531010789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230531010789A), May 31, 2023: Robinson Helicopter R44, Waterford, MI, Substantial damage. Pilot was instructing hover techniques and retook flight controls and failed to notice a rearward moment imparted by the student. The helicopter tail hit the…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 28, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192275. 4.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15808083&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 378 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15809944&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.

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