# NTSB CEN25LA063: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N3104U, Springfield, MO, December 21, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 21, 2024, 15:27 local (21:27 UTC) - Place: Springfield, MO - Coordinates: 37, -93 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0000&lon=-93.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - 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, St. Louis Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 199464 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199464/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199464 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA063 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter while turning on the blower fan switch after landing that resulted in a dynamic rollover sequence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) operating: 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) - [Standing-engine(s) operating: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Standing-engine(s) operating: 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 reported having completed one flight around the airport traffic pattern with a flight instructor in preparation for the student pilot’s first solo flight. They then landed near a fixed base operator at the airport, and the flight instructor exited the helicopter. The student pilot took off and practiced hovering, hovering taxi, and flew three airport traffic patterns before returning to the grass area at the airport for additional hover and hover taxi practice. The windshield began to fog during the additional practice, so the student pilot landed the helicopter to turn the blower fan switch on, but did not engage the collective friction or reduce the engine power. The student pilot said he had never used the blower fan switch, and it took a couple of seconds to locate, during which time the helicopter rolled right, and the main rotor blades contacted the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its left side. The blower fan switch is located near the floor between the pilot’s legs. The helicopter was destroyed by its impact with the ground. The student pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunctions/failures of the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3104U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3104U), registered now, S/N 4061, built 2006 (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-J2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-j2a) (registry code 42314, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 4061 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 1254 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: So Fly Flight Training Academy, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 24, 2024 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 3DW, Downtown Airport - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: minor; student, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 20, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,300 total, 27.3 in this make and model, 5,100 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.33 inHg - Observed at: SGF, 6 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20241221021039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241221021039A), Dec 21, 2024: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Springfield, MO, Destroyed. This was student pilot’s first solo flight. The flight was from 3DW and began at approximately 14:20 CST with one circuit in the traffic pattern with the CFI.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199464. 18.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18260496&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master_Redacted%202-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 pilot's revision on 01/31/25 (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18263972&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form%202024%20Revised%20by%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Video file - witness (item 3, MOV, 14.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18139643&FileExtension=mov&FileName=RPReplay_Final1734885353-Rel.mov - Photos (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 828 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18258057&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-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.