# NTSB ERA25LA046: Robinson Helicopter R22 Mariner, N178EP, Parrottsville, TN, November 13, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 13, 2024, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Parrottsville, TN - Coordinates: 36.031583, -83.023871 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0316&lon=-83.0239&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 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): 195496 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195496/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195496 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA046 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a precautionary, off-airport landing to sloping terrain. ## 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 R22 MARINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7640115), [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 MARINER, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640115), [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. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 MARINER, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640115), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot of the helicopter stated she was flying on her first solo cross-county flight. She flew to the first destination airport, which was about 30 minutes away, and made three uneventful approaches to land before departing the airspace and fly to another airport and practice some more approaches. She stated that about 15 minutes out from the next airport, she was having problems getting the correct frequency dialed into the radio and the helicopter felt “light” on the controls. She further described that the engine was running normally and all engine controls were functioning as expected. She then decided to make a precautionary landing in a field. During landing, she was focused on the helicopter’s instruments, did not look outside at the ground, and did not notice the field was slopped. One of the helicopter’s skids contacted the ground with a sideways motion, and the helicopter began to spin. The tail rotor subsequently contacted the ground and the helicopter rolled over on its left side resulting in substantial damage to the tail rotor and tail boom. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N178EP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N178EP-2025-12-06), registration cancelled 2025-12-06, S/N 1918, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R22 MARINER - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 MARINER](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-mariner) (registry code 7640115) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1918 - Year built: 1991 - Airframe hours: 3086 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sevier County Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 17, 2024 - Departed: TRI, Bristol, TN - Destination: GCY, Greenville, TN - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 47 total, 47 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.24 inHg - Observed at: DKX, 41 nm away - METAR: KDKX 131635Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM CLR 17/07 A3024 RMK A01 ## 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 20241113017249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241113017249A), Nov 13, 2024: Robinson Helicopter Company R22 MARINER, Limestone, TN, Substantial damage. A student pilot on a solo cross-country flight was looking at navigation log when she realized the aircraft speed was slow. A forward cyclic input was made and… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 13, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195496. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18049034&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18037622&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20record-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 647 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18039596&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-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.