# NTSB IAD97LA106: Robinson R22 Beta, N717GT, Willimantic, CT, August 6, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 1997, 12:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Willimantic, CT - Location: 41.7440° N, 72.1802° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at WINDHAM (IJD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7440&lon=-72.1802&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 9, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28221 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD97LA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28221/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA106 ## Probable cause The student pilot misunderstood the flight instructor's instructions and reduced the engine power to idle, and the Certificated Flight Instructor's delayed remedial action. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, hover - in ground effect - throttle/power control - removed, dual student (cause) - instructions,written/verbal - not understood, dual student (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, hover ## Analysis The student pilot flew his first two flights with another instructor. After practicing various maneuvers and while hovering at about 10 feet AGL with a new instructor, the student pilot was asked to return to their home airport to practice auto rotations. The student pilot turned the throttle to idle and the helicopter impacted the ground before the instructor could recover. The student pilot stated that he mistakenly thought the instructor requested an auto rotation from their present location, as he had done on his previous flights. No mechanical problems were reported by the instructor or the student. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 1997, about 1220 eastern standard time, a Robinson R-22 Beta, N717GT, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Windham Airport, Willimantic, Connecticut. The certificated flight instructor and the pre-solo foreign student were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR 91. The flight originated from the Ellington Airport, Ellington, Connecticut, about 1138. The flight instructor stated that they flew to Windham Airport to practice approaches and hovering. Upon completion of their maneuvers and while hovering at 10 feet, the instructor asked the foreign student to return to Ellington Airport to practice auto rotations. According to the instructor, the student moved the throttle to idle and the helicopter impacted the ground before he could recover control of the helicopter. The student pilot was a foreign national with limited ability to speak and understand English. His previous two flights were with another instructor, who had the student pilot practice hovering auto rotations. When interviewed after the accident, the student stated that he mistakenly thought the new instructor requested an auto rotation from their present location. The student adjusted the throttle and it slipped to the idle position. Neither the instructor nor the student reported mechanical problems with the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N717GT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N717GT-1999-06-03), registration cancelled 1999-06-03, S/N 1422 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 BETA - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1422 - Airframe hours: 829 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Northeast Helicopter Inc. - Registered owner: Heli Corp Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 30, 1997, 27 hours before - Departed: 7B9, ELLINGTON, CT - Destination: 7B9, CT - Airport: IJD, Windham ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 363 total, 357 in this make and model, 301 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: IJD ## 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 19970806021269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970806021269A), Aug 6, 1997: Robsin R22BETA, Willimantic, CT, Substantial damage. Helicopter landed hard, sustained damage to rotor and tail boom. (.4)the student pilot flew his first two flights with another instructor. After practicing… 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.