# NTSB DFW08CA064: Robinson R22 Beta, N2364B, Houston, TX, February 8, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 8, 2008, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 30.056943, -95.551666 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0569&lon=-95.5517&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Other: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 67485 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67485/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA064 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper use of the collective and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a dynamic rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Other: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The certified flight instructor and the student pilot flew to a practice area to work on hovering techniques. Before the flight instructor turned over the controls to the student, he discussed with the student how to make a positive transfer of the controls and also the importance of not having a tight grip on the controls. The student took control of the helicopter and practiced hovering for approximately 10 minutes, when the flight instructor felt the helicopter begin to settle. Before the flight instructor could react, the student pilot "quickly" pulled the collective full up, which overrode the throttle and the main rotor began to lose rpm. The instructor immediately made an attempt to lower the collective and increase engine rpm, but the left skid contacted the ground, and the helicopter rolled over on to its left side. The helicopter sustained damage to the main rotor blades and the firewall. ## Factual narrative The certified flight instructor and the student pilot flew to a practice area to work on hovering techniques. Before the flight instructor turned over the controls to the student, he discussed with the student how to make a positive transfer of the controls and also the importance of not having a tight grip on the controls. The student took control of the helicopter and practiced hovering for approximately 10 minutes, when the flight instructor felt the helicopter begin to settle. Before the flight instructor could react, the student pilot "quickly" pulled the collective full up, which overrode the throttle and the main rotor began to lose rpm. The instructor immediately made an attempt to lower the collective and increase engine rpm, but the left skid contacted the ground, and the helicopter rolled over on to its left side. The helicopter sustained damage to the main rotor blades and the firewall. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2364B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2364B-2015-05-13), registration cancelled 2015-05-13, S/N 2362, built 1993 (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: 2362 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Helicopter Services Incorporated - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: DWH, Houston, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 37; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2; flight hours: 342 total, 249 in this make and model - Student pilot; age 24; student; medical: class 2; flight hours: 3 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20080208010969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080208010969A), Feb 8, 2008: Robsin R22BETA, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Student was practicing hovering in west practice area at dwh when aircraft began to settle. Student applied abrupt collective input to stop descent and… 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.