- Date
- June 2, 2016, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Las Vegas, NV
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N441JLRobinson Helicopter R44
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 3, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20160602017889A
- Case key
- 93317
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 pilot receiving instruction's incorrect action of interfering with the flight controls and failure to comply with the flight instructor's commands, which resulted in a loss of lateral bank control and a rollover.
Findings · 3
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 during a helicopter "discovery flight" he was providing instruction to an airplane rated private pilot. The flight instructor further reported that prior to takeoff he told the pilot receiving instruction, "I am going to do the takeoff, and you can feel the controls." As soon as the helicopter entered a hover after takeoff, the pilot receiving instruction "put in strong left input" with the cyclic and would not stop after repeated instruction to let go of the flight controls. Subsequently, the helicopter's left main skid touched down and the helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its left side. The tail boom was substantially damaged. The flight instructor did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported on the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/ Operator Aircraft Accident Report, within the owner/ operator safety recommendation section, he will not allow student pilots to touch the flight controls below 500 feet above the ground, until he is comfortable with the student.
Factual narrative
The flight instructor reported that during a helicopter "discovery flight" he was providing instruction to an airplane rated private pilot. The flight instructor further reported that prior to takeoff he told the pilot receiving instruction, "I am going to do the takeoff, and you can feel the controls." As soon as the helicopter entered a hover after takeoff, the pilot receiving instruction "put in strong left input" with the cyclic and would not stop after repeated instruction to let go of the flight controls. Subsequently, the helicopter's left main skid touched down and the helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its left side. The tail boom was substantially damaged. The flight instructor did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported on the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/ Operator Aircraft Accident Report, within the owner/ operator safety recommendation section, he will not allow student pilots to touch the flight controls below 500 feet above the ground, until he is comfortable with the student.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N441JL
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0842
- Built
- 2000
- Airframe hours
- 4,053.4
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540, 245 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- 702 Helicopter Inc.
- Registered owner
- 702 Helicopter Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 15, 2016
- Departed
- VGT · Las Vegas, NV
- Destination
- VGT · Las Vegas, NV
- Airport
- VGT · North Las Vegas
- Equipment
- None
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
- 21
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Waiver time limited special
- Last flight review
- May 26, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 224.6 total · 118.6 in this make and model · 164.6 as pilot in command · 41.9 in the last 90 days · 24.1 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Pilot-rated passenger
- Age
- 59
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Unknown
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 68 total · 0 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- KVGT
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.9 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.