# NTSB ERA24LA028: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N964SH, Ronkonkoma, NY, October 28, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 28, 2023, 09:46 local (13:46 UTC)
- Place: Ronkonkoma, NY
- Coordinates: 40.796136, -73.100665
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7961&lon=-73.1007&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: 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): 193332
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193332/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193332
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA028

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s abrupt control input and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action, 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 · Student/instructed 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)
- [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/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: [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)
- [Maneuvering-hover: 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

The flight instructor was teaching the student pilot to hover the helicopter about 5 ft above a grass area. The student pilot was having difficulty with over-controlling the helicopter and had been applying abrupt control inputs. The flight instructor was demonstrating the behavior of the helicopter with the application of collective control when the student pilot raised the collective control too hard, which resulted in the helicopter tilting right. The flight instructor attempted to correct, but the student pilot was holding the controls tightly and the helicopter’s right skid contacted the ground, resulting in a dynamic rollover. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N964SH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N964SH), registered now, S/N 3941, built 2005 (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 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3941
- Year built: 2005
- Airframe hours: 6015
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Flying Helicopters Made Easy
- Registered owner: I1 Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 14, 2023, 85 hours before
- Airport: ISP, Long Island Mac Arthur Airport
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 52; injuries: none; commercial, private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 16, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,800 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 3,650 as pilot in command, 290 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 55; injuries: none; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 5 total, 5 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ISP
- METAR: SPECI KISP 281439Z 28009KT 10SM CLR 24/16 A3000

## 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 20231028018349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231028018349A), Oct 28, 2023: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Ronkonkoma, NY, Substantial damage. On 10/28/2023 instructor pilot and student pilot were conducting practice hover in west sod area at isp. Student was having difficultly managing controls,…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 13, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193332. 5.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16373666&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Weather report (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16373266&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Metars-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16391894&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_Redacted-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.

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