- Date
- February 26, 2007, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place
- Melbourne, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8347VRobinson R22 Beta
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 29, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration, Orlando FSDO
- FAA report
- 20070226008209A
- Case key
- 65353
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The flight instructor's inadequate remedial action following a loss of control in flight. A factor to the accident is that the dual student did not maintain directional control of the helicopter while manuevering, which subsequently caused the instructor to lose control of the helicopter.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The helicopter spun to the left 2 to 2.5 times during liftoff, contacted the ground in a level attitude then spun about 180 degrees causing damage to one of the skids and the tailboom. The instructor reported that he let the student have as much control during liftoff that he, the instructor, was comfortable allowing. The instructor reported that he told the student to "raise the collective slowly and correct for any movement." The instructor stated that while lifting off, the helicopter "started to spin to the left. I think I over reacted to the controls, then over corrected." The instructor reported the helicopter spun rapidly two and a half full turns before contact with the ground. The instructor stated that upon contact with the ground "he had all of the controls." The instructor reported the helicopter spun again, about 180-270 degrees, before coming to a rest.
Factual narrative
The helicopter spun to the left 2 to 2.5 times during lift off, contacted the ground in a level attitude then spun about 180 degrees causing damage to one of the skids and the tailboom. The instructor reported that he let the student have as much control during lift off that he, the instructor, was comfortable allowing. The instructor reported that he told the student to "raise the collective slowly and correct for any movement." The instructor stated that while lifting off, the helicopter "started to spin to the left. I think I over reacted to the controls, then over corrected." The instructor reported the helicopter spun rapidly two and a half full turns before contact with the ground. The instructor stated that upon contact with the ground "he had all of the controls." The instructor reported the helicopter spun again, about 180-270 degrees, before coming to a rest.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8347V
- Reported as
- Robinson R22 Beta
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2682
- Airframe hours
- 2,423
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Silver State Helicopters
- Registered owner
- Higgins Leasing Incorporated
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · February 1, 2007
- Departed
- MLB · Melbourne, FL
- Destination
- Melbourne, FL
- Airport
- MLB · Melbourne International
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 28
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 1, 2006
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 369 total · 356 in this make and model · 273 as pilot in command · 77 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 40
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 11 total · 11 in this make and model · 0 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,600 ft broken
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- MLB
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.