# NTSB DFW05CA195: Robinson R22 Beta II, N18VH, New Braunfels, TX, July 30, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 30, 2005, 12:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: New Braunfels, TX - Coordinates: 29.702777, -98.038612 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7028&lon=-98.0386&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: SAT FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62091 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05CA195 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62091/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05CA195 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter and delayed remedial action by the flight instructor. ## 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 - aircraft control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The 450-hour flight instructor stated that the student pilot picked up the helicopter to a 4-foot hover into the wind. The instructor then looked behind and to the left to ensure that the taxiway was clear. At this point, the helicopter descended and caught the left skid on the pavement. The instructor stated before he "could lower collective or push cyclic to the right, the helicopter turned over on its left side". ## Factual narrative On July 30, 2005, approximately 1250 central daylight time, a single-engine Robinson R22 helicopter, N18VH, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the taxiway while hovering at New Braunfels Municipal Airport (BAZ), New Braunfels, Texas. The flight instructor and his student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the training flight, which was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The local flight originated from New Braunfels Municipal Airport, New Braunfels, Texas, approximately 1245. In a written statement, the 450-hour flight instructor stated that student pilot picked up the helicopter to a 4-foot hover into the wind. The instructor then looked behind and to the left to ensure that the taxiway was clear. At this point, the helicopter descended and caught the left skid on the pavement. The instructor stated before he "could lower collective or push cyclic to the right, the helicopter turned over on its left side." The student pilot receiving instruction, who had accumulated 16-hours of instruction in the helicopter, reported a similar sequence of events and added that he, "moved laterally to the left, descended as we were moving and caught the left skid and rolled over." An examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed structural damage to the tail boom. The rotor blades struck the ground and were damaged, and the left skid was also damaged. At 1251, the automated weather observing system at BAZ, reported wind from 080 at 06 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 91 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.12 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N18VH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N18VH-2018-01-11), registration cancelled 2018-01-11, S/N 3503, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 Beta II - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (registry code 7640102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3503 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Silver State Helicopters, LLC, doing business as New Braunfels, Tx Flight Academy - Registered owner: Silver State Helicopters LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BAZ, New Braunfels, TX - Destination: BAZ, New Braunfels, TX - Airport: BAZ, New Braunfels Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 46; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 450 total, 352 in this make and model, 383 as pilot in command, 147 in the last 90 days, 87 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 51; injuries: none; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 16 total, 16 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: BAZ ## 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 20050730016309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050730016309A), Jul 30, 2005: Robsin R22, New Braunfels, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) At start of lesson, student brought the helicopter to a four foot hover into the wind. As the student began to move the helicopter to the left, the… 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.