# NTSB IAD05LA108: Robinson R22, N8041J, Nashua, NH, July 22, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 22, 2005, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Nashua, NH - Coordinates: 42.781665, -71.514724 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7817&lon=-71.5147&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-05 - NTSB case key (mKey): 62046 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD05LA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62046/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - in ground effect - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, hover - 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8041J-2011-09-12), registration cancelled 2011-09-12, S/N 1061, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 - 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: 0761 - Airframe hours: 6214.7 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 49; injuries: none; 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 - 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050722017939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050722017939A), Jul 22, 2005: Robsin R22BETA, Nashua, NH, Substantial damage. (-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… ## Other investigations on N8041J (1) 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. - [NTSB IAD99LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD99LA028), Jan 15, 1999: Robinson R-22B (N8041J), Fairfield, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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… 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.