- Date
- June 19, 2010, 10:50 local (14:50 UTC)
- Place
- West Palm Beach, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N7988HRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Dynamic rollover
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 7, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20100619041749A
- Case key
- 76390
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 CFI's failure to prevent ground contact during hover, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The certificated flight instructor (CFI) stated that he was tasked with flying with the student the morning of the accident. He spoke with the student's regular CFI and was briefed on his progress and ability. The helicopter was taxied to a defined spot on the airport and he began teaching the student how to hover. Approximately 15 to 20 minutes into the flight, while still practicing hovering, the CFI felt the helicopter moving aft followed by a violent jolt. The helicopter rolled onto the left side and caught fire. A postaccident inspection of the helicopter revealed that the main rotor hub was fractured and the associated main rotor blade was in 2 pieces.
Factual narrative
The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that he was tasked with flying with the student the morning of the accident. He then spoke with the student's CFI and was briefed on his progress and ability. Preparation for the flight included weight and balance check, and a check of the weather. Preflight inspection of the helicopter and operational checks of the helicopter were performed using the checklist. The helicopter was taxied to a defined spot on the airport and he began teaching the student how to hover. The CFI allowed the student to control each control independently, then allowed the student to hover with corrective input from him. Approximately 15 to 20 minutes into the instructional flight while hovering, the CFI later reported recalling the helicopter moving aft followed by a violent jolt. The helicopter rolled onto the left side and caught fire. Both occupants exited the helicopter from the right side and were not injured. Inspection of the helicopter following recovery revealed the main rotor hub was fractured and the associated main rotor blade was in 2 pieces located approximately 30 and 60 yards away, respectively. The fracture surface of the main rotor hub exhibited features consistent with cantilever bending overstress, and the separated section of the main rotor blade exhibited compression wrinkles.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7988H
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 4374
- Airframe hours
- 1,087
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-J2A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Cloud 9 Helicopters LLC
- Registered owner
- Higgins Leasing, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 17, 2010
- Departed
- F45 · West Palm Beach, FL
- Destination
- F45 · West Palm Beach, FL
- Airport
- F45 · North Palm Beach County Genera
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 30
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,120 total · 970 in this make and model · 1,090 as pilot in command · 133 in the last 90 days · 36 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 23
- Injuries
- None
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 7 total · 7 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.09 inHg
- Observed at
- PBI, 12 nm away
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.