# NTSB GAA17CA406: Robinson Helicopter R22, N2336J, Wilkes-Barre, PA, July 10, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 10, 2017, 12:45 UTC - Place: Wilkes-Barre, PA - Coordinates: 41.297222, -75.852218 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2972&lon=-75.8522&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: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95561 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA406 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95561/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95561 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA406 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's delayed remedial action to maintain helicopter altitude during hover flight instruction, which resulted in the helicopter skid contacting a crack in the runway and a dynamic rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/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: 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 **This report was modified on July 17, 2020. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.** The flight instructor reported that he was teaching his student to hover in the helicopter. The helicopter was in a 2-ft hover and began drifting to the left. The left rear skid got caught in a crack in the runway, and the helicopter rolled left. According to the flight instructor, the student pilot pulled up on the collective, and the instructor attempted to push the collective down; however, the student pilot reported that he was not aware the flight instructor had transferred control of the helicopter to him and was "tracking the progress of the flight instructor." A dynamic rollover occurred, and the helicopter rolled onto its left side. The flight instructor reported that wind gusts may have been a factor in the accident. According to the METAR that the flight instructor was monitoring about the time of the accident, the wind was from 210° at 8 knots. The METAR reported no wind gusts and no convective activity that day. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and the main rotor system. The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The helicopter flight instructor reported that he was teaching his student to hover. The helicopter was at a 2-foot hover and began drifting to the left. The left rear skid contacted the ground and a left roll ensued. The student pilot pulled up on the collective, and the instructor attempted to push the collective down. A dynamic rollover occurred, and the helicopter rolled onto its left side. The flight instructor reported that wind gusts may have been a factor in the accident. According to the METAR that was being monitored by the flight instructor about the time of the accident, the wind was from 210° at 8 knots. No wind gusts and no convective activity was reported via METAR that day. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and the main rotor system. The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2336J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2336J-2018-12-07), registration cancelled 2018-12-07, S/N 2168, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 (Beta) - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2168 - Year built: 1992 - Airframe hours: 6973.4 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-J2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Valley Aviation Inc, doing business as Valley Aviation - Registered owner: Stella Air Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2017 - Departed: KWBW, Forty Fort, PA - Destination: KWBW, Forty Fort, PA - Airport: WBW, Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley, runway 25, 3,375 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 50; injuries: minor; private, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 17, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,693 total, 1,487 in this make and model, 4,540 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 61; injuries: none; medical: class 3; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 23 total, 23 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 8 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KAVP, 6 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 20170710011529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170710011529A), Jul 10, 2017: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Forty_fort, PA, Destroyed. During a training flight the student and instructor were hovering at approximately one foot off of the ground. The helicopter began to sink the instructor… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 13, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95561. 14.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=5722642&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=5722342&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-Rel.pdf - NTSB - original adopted board report (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11932715&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=GAA17CA406%20Original%20Brief-Rel.pdf - Tracked changes to original NTSB report (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11932973&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Text%20revisions%20to%20revised%20final%20report-Rel.pdf - NTSB response to petition for reconsideration (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 127 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11932705&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20GAA17CA406%20petition%20response-Rel.pdf - Petition for reconsideration (item 6, PDF, 95 pages, 11.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11932703&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=58487_inc%20petition-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.