# NTSB ERA23LA084: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N14HT, Gilgo-Oak Beach-Captree, NY, December 11, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 11, 2022, 12:20, time zone not recorded - Place: Gilgo-Oak Beach-Captree, NY - Coordinates: 40.647771, -73.333294 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6478&lon=-73.3333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Autorotation: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - 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): 106440 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106440/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106440 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA084 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action while supervising the student pilot’s practice autorotation in gusting wind conditions, 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 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) - [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 BETA, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Autorotation: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231); 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 After practicing maneuvers, autorotative approaches, and landings in the local area, the flight instructor and the student pilot were practicing autorotative landings from a hover following a simulated loss of engine power, off-airport, and over sandy terrain. While hovering about 3 ft. above the ground, the student pilot reduced engine power to enter an autorotation. Between 1 and 2 ft. above the ground, a gust of wind struck the helicopter from the right that resulted in the helicopter rolling and drifting to the left. The flight instructor then took control of the helicopter, but the left roll and drift continued, the left skid impacted the ground, and the helicopter experienced a dynamic rollover onto its left side. During the rollover, the main rotor blades impacted the ground and the tailboom and main rotor mast pylon were substantially damaged. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N14HT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N14HT), registered now, S/N 4040 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-J2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-j2a) (registry code 42314, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 4040 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 5469 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: N7047x-R22 LLC, doing business as Flying Helicopters Made Easy - Registered owner: N7047x-R22 LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 30, 2022 - Departed: FRG, Farmingdale, NY - Destination: FRG, Farmingdale, NY - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 24; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 21, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,549.7 total, 609.2 in this make and model, 1,454.2 as pilot in command, 135.3 in the last 90 days, 49.4 in the last 30 days, 3.2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 69.5 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: FRG, 6 nm away - METAR: KFRG 111653Z 07009KT 10SM OVC017 04/00 A3020 RMK AO2 RAB28E38 SLP228 P0000 T00390000 ## 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 20221211018849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221211018849A), Dec 11, 2022: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Fox Island, NY, Substantial damage. Flight instructor reported that he and his student were performing practice power failures in a hover. According to flight instructor he demonstrated one power… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106440. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15088297&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Form-p_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15082636&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N14HT%20Report%20from%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 578 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15082646&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20Template-test-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.