# NTSB ERA14CA217: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N802CP, Frederick, MD, May 1, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 1, 2014, 19:10 local (23:10 UTC)
- Place: Frederick, MD
- Coordinates: 39.417499, -77.374443 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4175&lon=-77.3744&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 5, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89154
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA217
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89154/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89154
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA217

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the hover, and the flight instructors lack of remedial action, resulting in a dynamic rollover and structural damage to the helicopter.

## 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: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the flight instructor, his student was practicing hover operations over a grassy area of the airport. This was the first flight in a helicopter for the student pilot. The helicopter drifted to the right while descending. The right skid contacted the grass and the helicopter rolled to the right and the main rotor blades contacted the ground. The helicopter continued to roll over and came to rest on its right side. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the helicopter and confirmed substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and main rotor blades. The pilots reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

According to the flight instructor, his student was practicing hover operations over a grassy area of the airport. This was the first flight in a helicopter for the student pilot. The helicopter drifted to the right while descending. The right skid contacted the grass and the helicopter rolled to the right and the main rotor blades contacted the ground. The helicopter continued to roll over and came to rest on its right side. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the helicopter and confirmed substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and main rotor blades. The pilots reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N802CP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N802CP-2015-04-15), registration cancelled 2015-04-15, S/N 2270, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA (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: 2270
- Year built: 1993
- Airframe hours: 6621
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Advanced Helicopter Concepts Inc
- Registered owner: Advanced Helicopter Concepts Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 9, 2014, 45 hours before
- Departed: FDK, Frederick, MD
- Destination: FDK, Frederick, MD
- Airport: FDK, Frederick Muni

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 32; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 18, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,060 total, 208 in this make and model, 2,990 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,361 total, 1 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observed at: FDK

## 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 20140501005479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140501005479A), May 1, 2014: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Frederick, MD, Substantial damage. The CFI was giving instruction to a student in hovering the aircraft. The aircraft drifted right while descending. The right skid contacted the ground and the…

## Docket (12 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 27, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89154. 6.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 547 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412720&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- CFI and Student Statements (item 2, .PDF, 158 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412721&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CFI%20and%20Student%20Statements-Redacted.PDF
- Correspondence - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412722&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - Conversation with Operator (item 4, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412723&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Conversation%20with%20Operator-Master.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - FDK Weather Data (item 5, .PDF, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412724&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20FDK%20Weather%20Data-Master.PDF
- Photo 1. Helicopter Resting on Right Side (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 358 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412725&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Helicopter%20Resting%20on%20Right%20Side%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2. Helicopter After Recovery to Hanger (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 945 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412726&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Helicopter%20After%20Recovery%20to%20Hanger%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%20-Master.PDF
- Photo 3. Helicopter After Recovery to Hanger (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 925 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412727&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Helicopter%20After%20Recovery%20to%20Hanger%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 4. Forward Tail Boom Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 902 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412728&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20Forward%20Tail%20Boom%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 5. Upper Fuselage Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 10, .PDF, 935 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412729&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.%20Upper%20Fuselage%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 6. Engine Firewall Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 11, .PDF, 897 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412730&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206.%20Engine%20Firewall%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 7. Main Rotor Blade Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 12, .PDF, 940 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412731&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207.%20Main%20Rotor%20Blade%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF

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.

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