# NTSB FTW01LA042: Robinson R-22B2, N7158M, Mesquite, TX, December 22, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 22, 2000, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Mesquite, TX - Coordinates: 32.87989, -96.650367 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8799&lon=-96.6504&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50863 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50863/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA042 ## Probable cause The student pilot's abrupt control input, which resulted in a tail rotor blade strike. Factors were the CFI's delay in taking remedial action and the student pilot's lack of total experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - in ground effect - aircraft control - abrupt, dual student (cause) - lack of total experience, dual student (contributing factor) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - rotor system,tail rotor - blade strike - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command(cfi) - In flight collision with terrain/water, hover - in ground effect - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis Shortly after liftoff to a 10-foot hover, the certified flight instructor (CFI) transferred control of the helicopter to the student pilot. The student then 'jerked' back on the cyclic and the tail rotor struck the ground before the CFI could regain control. As the helicopter 'spun' to the right, the CFI attempted to reduce the throttle and lower the collective. The helicopter came to rest on its left side and both occupants evacuated. The helicopter sustained structural damage to the tail boom, cabin, and main rotor system. The instructional flight was the second for the student pilot who had 2 hours of total flight time. ## Factual narrative On December 22, 2000, approximately 1100 central standard time, a Robinson R-22B2 helicopter, N7158M, registered to and operated by Sky Helicopters Inc., Garland, Texas, was substantially damaged following a rollover while hovering within a practice area at the Mesquite Airport, Mesquite, Texas. The certified flight instructor (CFI) received minor injuries, and his student pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight originated from the Garland Municipal Airport, Garland, Texas, at 1030. Following about 30 minutes of uneventful basic flight instruction, the CFI and student pilot proceeded to Mesquite Airport to accomplish hover practice. After landing on the taxiway for runway 17, and giving a brief about hovering, the CFI moved the helicopter to a grass covered practice area adjacent to the taxiway. The student then practiced hovering for about 3-4 minutes, with guidelines that the CFI would stabilize the helicopter and then transfer control to the student pilot. The CFI then landed the helicopter to give the student a short rest. Shortly after liftoff to a 10-foot hover, the CFI transferred control to the student. The student then "jerked" back on the cyclic and the tail rotor struck the ground before the CFI could regain control. As the helicopter "spun" to the right, the CFI attempted to reduce the throttle and lower the collective. The helicopter came to rest on its left side and both occupants evacuated. The helicopter sustained structural damage to the tail boom, cabin, and main rotor system. The student pilot had 2 hours of total flight time at the time of the accident. It was the student's second instructional flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7158M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7158M-2001-02-12), registration cancelled 2001-02-12, S/N 2783 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R-22B2 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2783 - Airframe hours: 298 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sky Helicopters Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 16, 2000, 14 hours before - Departed: T57, GARLAND, TX - Destination: HQZ - Airport: HQZ, Mesquite Metro ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,491 total, 3,321 in this make and model, 233 in the last 90 days, 82 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F - Observed at: DAL, 20 nm away ## 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 20001222025309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001222025309A), Dec 22, 2000: Robsin R22BETA, Mesquite, TX, No damage. (-23) Practice hover flight approx. 2 to 3 feet, student jerked control aft, instructor unable to reach fast enough, tail rotor impacted ground. Main rotor… 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.