# NTSB ERA22LA236: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N666U, Nashua, NH, May 23, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 23, 2022, 10:41 local (14:41 UTC) - Place: Nashua, NH - Coordinates: 42.782397, -71.520674 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7824&lon=-71.5207&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 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): 105122 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA236 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105122/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105122 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA236 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during the takeoff, which resulted in a dynamic rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 R44 II, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7640122), [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 · 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231); 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 private pilot was receiving a checkout in the helicopter from the flight instructor, and they were practicing pick-ups and touchdowns on the non-movement area of the airport. The flight instructor was demonstrating a pick-up to the pilot when the helicopter rolled left (due to a wind gust) and reached an angle where the instructor described that he was unable to recover, resulting in a dynamic rollover. The fuselage and main rotor were substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation, nor did the flight instructor report any. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N666U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N666U-2023-06-08), registration cancelled 2023-06-08, S/N 10476, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY 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 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 10476 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 1907 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 245 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 22, 2022, 19 hours before - Airport: ASH, Boire Field Airport - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 2, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 259 total, 33 in this make and model, 67 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: ASH - METAR: KASH 231856Z 33011KT 10SM CLR 22/02 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP222 T02170017 ## 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 20220523008219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220523008219A), May 23, 2022: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Nashua, NH, Destroyed. The purpose of the flight was to provide instruction to the [privacy data omitted]student in the R44. On this particular day, the student was working on pick… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 13, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105122. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14967881&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20N666U_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 316 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14968696&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Statement%20from%20Klinker-Cloutier-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14886407&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20-%20ERA22LA236-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.