# NTSB CHI07CA077: Robinson R22 Beta, N8347V, Melbourne, FL, February 26, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 26, 2007, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Melbourne, FL - Coordinates: 28.101388, -80.644996 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.1014&lon=-80.6450&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Orlando FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65353 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65353/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA077 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - directional control - not maintained, dual student (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, descent - uncontrolled - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## 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 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 Beta - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2682 - Airframe hours: 2423 - Engines: 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 As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 28; injuries: none; 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 - Student pilot; age 40; injuries: none; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070226008209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070226008209A), Feb 26, 2007: Robsin R22BETA, Melbourne, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) The mishap occurred at the beginning of a 14 CFR 61 dual instructional flight. The CFI on board reported that the wind at the time was from 230 degrees… 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.