# NTSB ERA26LA313: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N979SH, Milton, FL, August 24, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 24, 2026, 14:56 local (19:56 UTC) - Place: Milton, FL - Coordinates: 30.637622, -86.993653 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6376&lon=-86.9937&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 1, 2026 - 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): 203654 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA313 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203654/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203654 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA313 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a low hover over a grass area, which resulted in left skid contact with the ground and a dynamic rollover to the left. ## 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) ## 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) - [Maneuvering-hover: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 85 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that she and a mechanic, who was not a pilot, completed a local 30-minute premaintenance check flight of the helicopter uneventfully. After returning to the departure airport, the flight instructor asked the mechanic if he would like to try and hover over a grass area near the runway. During the hover, the mechanic over-controlled the cyclic, and the helicopter rolled left. The left skid contacted the ground and the helicopter continued to (dynamically) roll left onto its left side, resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor blades and tailboom. The flight instructor added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N979SH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N979SH), registered now, S/N 4073, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA (NO SERIES) - 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: 4073 - Year built: 2006 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: AMS Flight School - Registered owner: November Alpha LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 29, 2026, 30 hours before - Airport: 2R4, Peter Prince Fld - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 2, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 396 total, 312 in this make and model, 365 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: NDZ, 4 nm away - METAR: METAR KNDZ 241856Z 00000KT 10SM FEW040 SCT080 BKN120 BKN250 32/26 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP134 SVR T2 SET T03170256 $ ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203654. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20914539&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Passenger written statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20914350&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pax%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photograph (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20914360&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photograph_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. --- 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.