Robinson R22 N8041J accident, Nashua, NH, Jul 22, 2005 · NTSB IAD05LA108

Probable cause

The flight instructor's failure to maintain aircraft control during a introductory flight and his inadequate remedial actions.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightHover - in ground effect

Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in command(cfi)Cause

Remedial action - inadequatePilot in command(cfi)Cause

In flight collision with terrain/waterHover - in ground effect

Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The purpose of the flight was to give a student an introductory flight. After conducting a local flight, they returned for "hover work" at the airport and then air taxied to a point just short of a runway. While waiting to cross the runway, the instructor placed the helicopter in a hover and had the student try to hold the helicopter steady while he kept his hands on the controls. The student then "pulled the controls" from his hands, and moments later, the instructor realized that the student had let go of the controls. The helicopter then "rolled hard left, very fast" and the instructor could not regain control. The main rotor blades then struck the ground. Examination of the helicopter revealed no evidence of any preimpact malfunctions.

Factual narrative

On July 22, 2005, at 1030 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R22, N8041J, was substantially damaged while hovering at Boire Field Airport (ASH), Nashua, New Hampshire. The certificated flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the flight instructor, the purpose of the flight was to give the student an introductory flight.

They departed the airport at 0950, and 20 minutes later, returned for "hover work" in an area located on the north portion of the airport. After completing the hover work, they air taxied to runway 32.

After arriving at runway 32, the instructor placed the helicopter in a hover 4-foot above the ground, abeam taxiway bravo. Then while waiting to cross, the instructor had the student try to hold the helicopter steady in the hover while he also kept his hands on the controls. The student then "pulled the controls" from his hands, and moments later, he realized that the student had let go of the controls. The helicopter then "rolled hard left, very fast" and the instructor could not regain control. The main rotor blades then struck the ground.

Examination of the helicopter by the FAA inspector revealed no evidence of any preimpact malfunctions.

During an interview with the student, he stated that when they arrived back at the airport, the instructor stopped the helicopter about 10-feet in the air while they were "waiting for planes to land." He then gave him the "stick."

The student stated that this made him very "uncomfortable" and he did not know what to do. Shortly thereafter, the helicopter started drifting sideways to the left and the accident occurred.

The flight instructor held a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for rotorcraft helicopter. His most recent application for an FAA second-class medical certificate was dated April 12, 2005. He reported 3,200 total hours of flight experience.

The helicopter was manufactured in 2001, and the most recent annual inspection was completed on June 24, 2005. At the time of the accident, the helicopter had accrued 6,214.7 total hours of operation.

The weather reported at the airport, at 1045, included winds from 320 degrees at 5 knots.

Aircraft

Registration: N8041J
Reported as: Robinson R22
Category: Helicopter
Serial number: 0761
Airframe hours: 6,214.7
Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner: C-R Helicopters Inc.
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: 100 hour · June 1, 2005 · 40 hours before
Departed: ASH · Nashua, NH
Destination: ASH
Airport: ASH · Boire Field Airport

N8041JRegistration cancelled Sep 12, 2011 · Robinson Helicopter R22 BETAS/N 1061 · Built 1989 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R22 BETA Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

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: 49
Injuries: None
Certificates: Flight instructor, Commercial
Medical: Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review: September 1, 2004
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 3,200 total · 3,200 in this make and model · 2,988 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 18 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Role: Student pilot
Injuries: None

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 320° at 5 knots
Visibility: 20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 68 °F
Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
Observed at: ASH

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 20050722017939ARobsin R22BETA · Nashua, NH(-23) The pilot reported that while in a hover several feet above the ground, waiting for other aircraft to land, allowed a new student to operate the controls. The student moved the controls causing the helicopter to roll left. The main rotor blades struck…Jul 22, 2005 · N8041J · Substantial damage

Other investigations on N8041J · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

NTSB IAD99LA028Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportFairfield, NJThe flight instructor's failure to maintain rotor rpm and his failure to complete the autorotational descent. A factor in the accident was the flight instructor's failure to fully deploy carburetor heat as directed in the Pilot's Operating Handbook.Jan 15, 1999 · Substantial damage