# NTSB CHI03LA053: Robinson R22B, N530DB, Oshkosh, WI, January 14, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 14, 2003, 17:33 local (23:33 UTC) - Place: Oshkosh, WI - Coordinates: 43.984443, -88.590278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9844&lon=-88.5903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56379 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56379/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56379 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA053 ## Probable cause The directional control not maintained by the unrated helicopter pilot, and the remedial action not performed by the pilot-in-command. The pilot-in-command's lack of certification as a certified flight instructor and the dark night conditions were contributing factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - in ground effect - directional control - not maintained, unqualified person (cause) - lack of certification, pilot in command (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - remedial action - not performed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The instructional helicopter flight impacted terrain during a hover taxi while being piloted by a non-rated helicopter pilot seeking to accumulate flight time towards a helicopter rating. Dark night conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. A rated helicopter pilot who did not hold certified flight instructor certificate was seated in the left pilot seat. The non-rated pilot began a right turn to taxi to a taxiway when the turn rate began to accelerate rapidly. The rated pilot attempted to regain control of the helicopter by applying a left pedal control input before the helicopter impacted the ground. ## Factual narrative On January 14, 2003, at 1733 central standard time, a Robinson R22B, N530DB, operated by W.W. Helicopters, LLC, as a rental helicopter, impacted terrain during a hover turn at Wittman Regional Airport (OSH), Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight was not operating on a flight plan. The commercial pilot and a non-rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight departed from Sheboygan County Regional Airport, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, at 1700, en route to OSH. The right seat pilot stated that he was a student trying to log hours in order to obtain a private pilot certificate with a helicopter rating. He stated that they had flown from East Troy to Sheboygan and then to OSH where they were going to refuel. The left seat pilot stated that he works out of W.W. Helicopters LLC, which is a flight school. The left seat pilot stated that he was flying with the right seat pilot so that the right seat pilot could log hours in order to obtain his helicopter rating. The left seat pilot stated that they had missed a turn to a taxiway leading to a fixed base operator at the airport. They then performed a right 180-degree turn to taxi back to the taxiway. About 45-75 degrees into the turn, the turn began to accelerate rapidly. The left seat pilot attempted to regain control, but the helicopter continued to the right at a faster rate even with left pedal applied. He could not get the helicopter under control. The helicopter went back up and rolled right and struck the ground about 15 feet from the taxiway onto the grass area adjacent to it. The left seat pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by being, "more attentive when helicopter began turn - covered controls." The left seat pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with a rotorcraft-helicopter rating and a private pilot certificate with a single engine land rating. He accumulated a total flight time of 303.9 hours in the make and model helicopter, of which 7.7 hours were in the last 90 days and 3.0 hours were in the last 30 days. The right seat pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane multiengine land rating, CE-500 type rating, and DC-9 type rating. He held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single engine land, airplane single engine sea, and airplane multiengine sea ratings. He held a certified flight instructor rating with airplane single engine and multiengine land ratings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N530DB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N530DB-2019-05-16), registration cancelled 2019-05-16, S/N 1650, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22B - 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: 1650 - Airframe hours: 2000.4 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: W W Helicopters LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 20, 2002 - Departed: SBM, SHEBOYGAN, WI - Destination: OSH, Oshkosh, WI - Airport: KOSH, Wittman Regional Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 9, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 984 total, 304 in this make and model, 868 as pilot in command - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 280° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 10 °F, dew point -6 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: OSH ## 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 20030114002699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030114002699A), Jan 14, 2003: Robsin R22BETA, Oshkosh, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) N530DB, a Robinson R-22-B rotorcraft, was substantially damaged during taxi after performing a visual approach to rwy 27 at Wittman airport, Oshkosh, WI.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 6, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56379. 633 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 285 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441561&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Information (item 2, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40205101&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-Master.PDF - Winnebago County Sheriff's Department Report (item 3, .PDF, 263 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40205102&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Winnebago%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Department%20Report-Master.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.