# NTSB ERA22LA140: Robinson Helicopter R22, N786SH, Fallston, MD, March 1, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 1, 2022, 11:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place: Fallston, MD · Fallston Airport (KW42)
- Coordinates: 39.501324, -76.411335 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5013&lon=-76.4113&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: 1 minor, 1 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): 104715
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA140
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104715/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104715
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA140

## Probable cause

The student pilot's unstabilized hover, which resulted in ground contact and a dynamic rollover. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student and his delayed remedial action.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [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 R22, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)
- [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, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7640102), [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.

- [Maneuvering-hover: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-hover: Altitude deviation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282/sequence.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 104 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-hover: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor and his student were performing maneuvers as part of a flight lesson. About 40 minutes into the flight, while attempting a left pedal turn, the helicopter descended just enough to touch the left rear skid, which surprised the student, who then added right lateral cyclic control. The helicopter’s right skid dug in the ground, and the helicopter rolled over on to its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and main rotor blades. The helicopter manufacturer’s flight maneuvers guide advised that a 5-foot hover should be used for all taxi and hover operations, and a minimum 5-foot hover was the policy of the flight school. After the accident, the flight school had discussions with all their helicopter instructors to emphasize the need to maintain proper height above the ground, the need to closely guard the controls while instructing, and the need for improved awareness of the capabilities and experience of the students.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N786SH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N786SH), registered now, S/N 3626, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R22
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (registry code 7640102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3626
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 7473.86
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-J2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Fly For Fun Aircraft LLC, doing business as Middle River Flight Center
- Registered owner: Spitzer Helicopter LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 2022
- Departed: MTN, Baltimore, MD
- Destination: W42, Fallston, MD
- Airport: W42, Fallston Airport, runway 22, 2,200 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 30; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 6, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,038 total, 828 in this make and model, 969 as pilot in command, 126 in the last 90 days, 776 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 35; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 14, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 143 total, 2 in this make and model, 83 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: KMTN, 10 nm away
- METAR: METAR KMTN 011654Z 13007KT 10SM BKN120 07/02 A3013

## 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 20220301003629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220301003629A), Mar 1, 2022: Robinson Helicopter Company R22, Fallston, MD, Destroyed. Fallston, MD (W42): N786SH, R22, during hover taxi on runway 22, caught a skid and tipped over. POB: 2, injuries: none Helicopter rolled over on to right side…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104715. 8.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13949263&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- NTSB form 6120 attachments (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 812 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13970863&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Attachments_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Excerpts from Robinson flight training guide - hovering flight (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13950747&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Robinson%20Flight%20Training%20Guide%20-%20Hovering%20Flight-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13948532&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.