# NTSB ERA21LA046: Robinson R44, N442JP, Austell, GA, November 18, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 18, 2020, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Austell, GA · Field - Coordinates: 33.834758, -84.657887 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8348&lon=-84.6579&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102310 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102310/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102310 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA046 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to maintain adequate clearance above the gravel surface in a hover, 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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/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 R44 II, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot were practicing approaches off-airport in the helicopter, and the flight instructor was demonstrating a slope landing. The flight instructor described that while in the hover, the helicopter suddenly pitched up 10-20°, followed by a pitch down of a like amount. The main rotor subsequently impacted the ground and the helicopter rolled over onto its left side, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail boom, main rotor, and fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there no preaccident mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Photographs of the accident site showed that the surface the hover was being performed over was an open area of uneven gravel. In a statement to a law enforcement officer who responded to the accident, the flight instructor described that the helicopter’s skid had contacted the gravel and the helicopter then flipped over. Given this information, it is likely that during the hover, the helicopter inadvertently contacted the gravel surface, which initiated a dynamic rollover event from which the flight instructor could not recover. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N442JP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N442JP), registered now, S/N 11960, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON R44 (II) - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640122) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (registry code 41899, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 11960 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 1977.9 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Atlanta Helicopters - Registered owner: Atlanta Helicopters LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 17, 2020 - Departed: PUJ, Atlanta, GA - Destination: PDK, Atlanta, GA - Airport: None - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 57; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2020; seat: left; flight hours: 21,200 total, 250 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; injuries: none; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.51 inHg - Observed at: FTY, 15 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20201118022319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201118022319A), Nov 18, 2020: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Austell, GA, Destroyed. The pilot was training a student pilot. They were practicing approaches to a designated area, which consisted of a large gravel mound that was flattened on… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102310. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11911532&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11911542&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Statement%20-%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record (police officer) (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11911552&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20(Police%20Officer)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 996 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11911253&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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. --- 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.