# NTSB ERA22LA069: K Copters 47G-2, N210JB, Lancaster, PA, November 20, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 20, 2021, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, PA - Coordinates: 40.122361, -76.294361 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1224&lon=-76.2944&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - 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): 104281 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104281/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104281 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA069 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to ensure a positive transfer of aircraft control, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action sequence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [K Copters 47G-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md?model=056337C), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [K Copters 47G-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=056337C), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [K Copters 47G-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056337C), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [K Copters 47G-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056337C), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, the purpose of the flight was to conduct hovering and pattern work maneuvers. After the completion of the flight, the student pilot was hovering and awaiting clearance to return to the ramp. The flight instructor said she was looking around to ensure the runway was clear and making a radio call, when suddenly, the helicopter pitched up. She attempted to gain control of the helicopter but was unsuccessful. The helicopter collided with the ground and rolled over. The flight instructor said she was not on the flight controls prior to the accident event. According to the student pilot, he stated that he was practicing hovering maneuvers for about an hour. He said that he was tired and transferred the controls to the flight instructor, as they waited to cross the field. The student pilot said that while they were waiting, the nose pitched up and the tailboom hit the ground. The helicopter then collided with the ground and rolled over. He said that he was not on the flight controls at the time of the accident. The helicopter was inspected by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector and revealed structural damage to the airframe. No flight control anomalies were discovered that would have precluded normal operation. During the FAA interviews of the pilots, both seemed to have believed that the other was on the flight controls at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N210JB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N210JB-2022-07-25), registration cancelled 2022-07-25, S/N K992, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: K COPTERS 47G-2 - Registry model: [K Copters 47G-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/k-copters-47g-2) (registry code 056337C) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6VS-335 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6vs-335-series) (registry code 27040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: K992 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 2156 - Engines: Lycoming IO-435-A1F 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 20, 2021, 10 hours before - Departed: LNS, Lancaster, PA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: LNS, Lancaster - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: minor; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,855 total, 43 in this make and model, 2,116 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; flight instructor, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,940 total, 17 in this make and model, 1,820 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.54 inHg - Observed at: KLNS - METAR: KLNS 201639Z 11004KT 10SM CLR 06/M03 A3054 RMK AO2 T00561028 ## 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 20211120022189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211120022189A), Nov 20, 2021: K Copters 47G-2, Lancaster, PA, Substantial damage. On 11/20/2021 the instructor was providing flight instruction to student/owner in helicopter N210JB (k-copter 47 G-2). At approximately 1126 local time, while… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104281. 14.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 22 pages, 9.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13024445&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilots%206120%20forms_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 468 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13025466&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20pilot%20interviews-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record FAA (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13029585&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Record%20FAA%20N210JB-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13026363&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20N210JB_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13026072&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20LA069-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.