# NTSB CHI04CA110: Robinson R22 Beta, N819TT, Shakopee, MN, April 24, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 24, 2004, 10:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: Shakopee, MN - Coordinates: 44.721942, -93.551391 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7219&lon=-93.5514&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59151 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04CA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59151/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA110 ## Probable cause The dual student's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during hovering flight and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action in order to prevent a loss of control. Contributing factors were the flight instructor's lack of dual instruction experience and the low altitude hover. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - aircraft control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - altitude - low (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The helicopter was substantially damaged during an in-flight collision with terrain. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and dual student were practicing normal approaches when the accident occurred. The CFI stated that the third approach was made to an open field and was terminated in a hover about five feet above ground level. The helicopter began yawing to the right and when the dual student did not correct for the rotation, he applied left pedal to stop the yaw. The CFI reported that as he applied the left pedal control input, the dual student stated "You have it," and simultaneously made a "strong" right cyclic input. He stated that as he attempted to recover, the dual student "abruptly" raised the collective without increasing the throttle, causing the rotor speed to decay. The CFI reported that the helicopter climbed and then began to settle toward the ground in a "right drift." He stated: "I was unable to recover the [rotor speed] or align the skids with the ground track before the right skid hit the ground. The skid dug in causing the helicopter to roll over on its right side." The CFI and dual student both reported that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the helicopter. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector verified control continuity during a post-accident examination. No anomalies consistent with a pre-impact failure were observed. The CFI reported a total flight time of 247 hours, with 63 hours in a Robinson R22 Beta. He reported instructor flight time as 5.6 hours total and 0.4 hours in the R22. ## Factual narrative On April 24, 2004, approximately 1050 central daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, N819TT, piloted by a certified flight instructor (CFI) and a dual student, was substantially damaged during an in-flight collision with terrain near Shakopee, Minnesota. The instructional flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The CFI and dual student reported no injuries. The local flight departed the Flying Cloud Airport (FCM), Minneapolis, Minnesota, about 1015. The CFI reported that they were approximately seven miles southwest of FCM practicing normal approaches when the accident occurred. He stated that the third approach was made to an open field and was terminated in a hover about five feet above ground level. The helicopter began yawing to the right and when the dual student did not correct for the rotation, the CFI applied left pedal to stop the yaw. The CFI reported that as he applied the left pedal control input, the dual student stated "You have it" and simultaneously made a "strong" right cyclic input. As he attempted to recover, the dual student "abruptly" raised the collective without increasing the throttle causing the rotor speed to decay. The CFI reported that the helicopter climbed and then began to settle toward the ground in a "right drift." He stated: "I was unable to recover the [rotor speed] or align the skids with the ground track before the right skid hit the ground. The skid dug in causing the helicopter to roll over on its right side." The dual student, who held a private pilot certificate with single and multi-engine airplane ratings, stated: "I brought the helicopter to within about 5 to 10 feet of the ground and attempted to hover. The helicopter turned a bit to the right and tilted to the left." He reported that he immediately attempted to transfer control to the CFI, saying "It is yours." The dual student reported that the CFI acknowledged. The dual student noted that the helicopter's movement seemed to become "more severe." He stated: "I sat with my hands and feet off the controls as the gyrations became progressively worse. Then it felt as though the body of the helicopter began to rapidly spin to the right. . . . My impression was that the right skid hit the ground and the helicopter slammed onto its right side." The CFI and dual student both reported that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the helicopter. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector verified control continuity during the post-accident examination. No anomalies consistent with a pre-impact failure were observed. The CFI reported a total flight time of 247 hours, with 63 hours in the Robinson R22 Beta. He reported instructor flight time as 5.6 hours total and 0.4 hours in the R22. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N819TT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N819TT), registered now, S/N 2161, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson 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: 2161 - Airframe hours: 2352.2 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Hummingbird Helicopters, LLC - Registered owner: IGEL Properties, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 27, 2004, 47 hours before - Departed: FCM, Minneapolis, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 43; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 12, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 247 total, 63 in this make and model, 185 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 17, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 1,684 total, 6 in this make and model, 1,496 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: FCM, 7 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 20040424008739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040424008739A), Apr 24, 2004: Robsin R22BETA, Shakopee, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) Flight instructor and student were approaching farm field for hover. Student had controls and panicked when he felt he was losing control of aircraft.… 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.