# NTSB GAA16CA290: Robinson Helicopter R66, N38SL, Beaumont, TX, June 7, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 7, 2016, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Beaumont, TX - Coordinates: 30.001943, -94.177223 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0019&lon=-94.1772&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93338 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA290 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93338/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93338 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA290 ## Probable cause The non-pilot owner's decision to start the helicopter while awaiting the pilot's arrival, which resulted in a loss of yaw control and a rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Other: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The owner of the helicopter, who did not hold a pilot certificate, reported that he followed the manufacture checklist and started the helicopter as he awaited the arrival of his pilot. He further reported that as the main rotor reached "idle speed" the helicopter spun to the right and rolled over, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor drive shaft and tail boom. The owner's pilot did not witness the accident and did not authorize the owner's actions. The owner did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The owner of the helicopter, who did not hold a pilot certificate, reported that he followed the manufacture checklist and started the helicopter as he awaited the arrival of his pilot. He further reported that as the main rotor reached "idle speed" the helicopter spun to the right and rolled over, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor drive shaft and tail boom. The owner's pilot did not witness the accident and did not authorize the owner's actions. The owner did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38SL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38SL-2021-06-05), registration cancelled 2021-06-05, S/N 0269, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R66](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r66) (registry code 7640130) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C300/A1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c300-a1) (registry code 54232, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0269 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 317 - Engines: ROLLS-ROYCE 250-C300/A1 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Beaumont, TX - Destination: Beaumont, TX - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 56 total, 56 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: KBPT, 12 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 20160607015189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160607015189A), Jun 7, 2016: Robinson Helicopter Co R66, Beaumont, TX, Substantial damage. Owner of aircraft was waiting for pilot to arrive to take a local flight. While waiting for pilot owner decided to start aircraft to use the air conditioner to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93338. 628 KB in all. - Owner Statement (item 1, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442679&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Owner%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 588 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442680&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.