DFW06CA213

NTSB accident investigation · Robinson R22 · Skiatook, OK · September 24, 2006

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
September 24, 2006, 14:40 local (19:40 UTC)
Place
Skiatook, OK
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N468SHRobinson R22
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 28, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
FAA report
20060924018909A
Case key
64581

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter following an encounter with dynamic rollover.

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.

Loss of control - in flightHover
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Dynamic rollover - encounteredPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The 1,365 hour single engine airplane rated pilot, who had accumulated 33 hours of flight instruction in a helicopter lost control of the helicopter while attempting to take off during his first solo flight. The pilot was attempting to take off on the parallel taxiway to runway 35 on a heading of 350 degrees when he lost control of the aircraft as the helicopter lifted off the ground. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1), that the "helicopter became airborne suddenly with much less collective input than I expected." The helicopter began to roll to the right and the pilot then overcorrected to the left with cyclic input and lowered the collective. The helicopter's left skid made contact with the ground first and the helicopter entered a dynamic roll to the left until the main rotor contacted the ground, and the helicopter came to rest on its left side. Prior to the solo flight, the pilot and his instructor discussed the changes in the flight characteristics concerning single occupancy in the helicopter and the procedures for the flight. The pilot was not injured. Weather reported by the pilot was overcast skies, 10 miles visibility with winds from 340 degrees at 10 knots, and a density altitude of approximately 948 feet.

Factual narrative

The 1,365 hour single engine airplane rated pilot, who had accumulated 33 hours of flight instruction in a helicopter lost control of the helicopter while attempting to takeoff during his first solo flight. The pilot was attempting to takeoff on the parallel taxiway to runway 35 on a heading of 350 degrees when he lost control of the aircraft as the helicopter lifted off the ground. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1), that the "helicopter became airborne suddenly with much less collective input than I expected." The helicopter began to roll to the right and the pilot then overcorrected to the left with cyclic input and lowered the collective. The helicopter's left skid made contact with the ground first and the helicopter entered a dynamic roll to the left until the main rotor contacted the ground, and the helicopter came to rest on its left side. Prior to the solo flight, the pilot and his instructor discussed the changes in the flight characteristics concerning single occupancy in the helicopter and the procedures for the flight. The pilot was not injured. Weather reported by the pilot was overcast skies, 10 miles visibility with winds from 340 degrees at 10 knots, and a density altitude of approximately 948 feet.

Aircraft

Registration
N468SH
Reported as
Robinson R22
Category
Helicopter
Serial number
4042
Airframe hours
456
Engine
Lycoming 0-360-J2A, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Silver State Helicopters LLC., doing business as Silver State Helicopters LLC
Registered owner
Silver State Helicopters
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · September 1, 2006
Departed
2F6 · Skiatook, OK
Destination
2F6 · Skiatook, OK
Airport
K2F6 · Skiatook

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
51
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
May 1, 2006
Seat
Right
Flight hours
1,365 total · 33 in this make and model · 1,283 as pilot in command · 27 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
340° at 10 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
2,900 ft overcast
Temperature
64 °F, dew point 55 °F
Altimeter
30.17 inHg
Observed at
KTUL, 12 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.