- Date
- May 3, 2016, 17:20 local (May 4, 2016, 00:20 UTC)
- Place
- Troutdale, OR
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N227SHRobinson Helicopter R22
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-hover: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 15, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20160503007129A
- Case key
- 93100
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The flight instructor's failure to monitor outside the helicopter during hover flight, which resulted in a collision with terrain and rollover.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The flight instructor reported that he was practicing hover flight in a helicopter over soft grass at a height of 5 to 7 feet above the ground with a student pilot on his second training flight. The flight instructor further reported that he was controlling the collective and anti-torque pedals, and the student pilot was controlling the cyclic control. During the hover, the flight instructor reported that he became fixated on the manifold pressure gauge and did not notice that the helicopter was moving forward and descending. Subsequently, the helicopter's right skid impacted the ground and rolled over. The main rotor drive shaft and tailboom were substantially damaged. The flight instructor did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The flight instructor reported that he was practicing hover flight in a helicopter over soft grass at a height of 5 to 7 feet above the ground with a student pilot on his second training flight. The flight instructor further reported that he was controlling the collective and anti-torque pedals, and the student pilot was controlling the cyclic control. During the hover, the flight instructor reported that he became fixated on the manifold pressure gauge and did not notice that the helicopter was moving forward and descending. Subsequently, the helicopter's right skid impacted the ground and rolled over. The main rotor drive shaft and tailboom were substantially damaged. The flight instructor did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N227SH
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R22 (BETA)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 4009
- Built
- 2006
- Airframe hours
- 7,792.7
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-J2A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Hillsboro Aero Academy LLC.
- Registered owner
- Hillsboro Aero Academy LLC.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 23, 2016
- Departed
- TTD · Troutdale, OR
- Destination
- TTD · Troutdale, OR
- Airport
- TTD · Portland-Troutdale
- Equipment
- Satellite tracking device
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 24
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 230 total · 203 in this make and model · 195 as pilot in command · 28 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 25
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 2 total · 2 in this make and model · 2 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- KTTD
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 2, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.4 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.