- Date
- June 9, 2003, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Phoenix, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N727DDRobinson R22 Beta II
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 29, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration, Robinson Helicopter Company
- FAA report
- 20030609012669A
- Case key
- 57190
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The instructor's inadequate supervision and his failure to maintain aircraft control. The wind gusts were a factor.
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.
Analysis
The helicopter rolled over during a low altitude hover. This was the second instructional flight for the student. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student were both on the controls, hovering approximately 5 feet above ground level (agl). The CFI was in control of the cyclic and the student was in control of the antitorque pedals and the collective. During the hover, the helicopter rolled to the right and collided with the ground, coming to rest on its side. No preimpact control anomalies with the helicopter were discovered. Winds were reported from 170 at 9 knots, gusting to 17 knots, just prior to the accident. A 3-foot-long drag mark in the dirt was noted, which led directly to the helicopter's right skid.
Factual narrative
On June 9, 2003, about 1630 mountain standard time, a Robinson R22 Beta II, N727DD, rolled over during a low altitude hover near Deer Valley Airport (DVT), Phoenix, Arizona. Universal Helicopters, Inc., was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student were not injured; the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight departed Scottsdale Airport (SDL), Scottsdale, Arizona, about 1600. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
In a written statement, the CFI stated that this was the second instructional flight for the student. The CFI and student were hovering approximately 7 feet above ground level (agl). The CFI was in control of the cyclic and the student was in control of the antitorque pedals and the collective. During the hover, the helicopter rolled to the right and collided with the ground, coming to rest on its side.
During wreckage recovery operations, the principal of Universal Helicopters observed a 3-foot-long drag mark in the dirt leading up to the helicopter's right skid.
The helicopter was examined at Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) in Torrance, California, by the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) and a technical investigator from RHC. Control continuity was established with the cyclic, collective, and antitorque pedals and no preimpact control anomalies were noted.
An aviation routine weather observation (METAR) was issued at 1622 for an airport about 6 miles away. Winds were reported from 170 at 9 knots, gusting to 17 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N727DD
- Reported as
- Robinson R22 Beta II
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3328
- Airframe hours
- 1,149
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-J2A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Universal Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- KSDL · Scottsdale, AZ
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 33
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- October 22, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,770 total · 455 in this make and model · 1,808 as pilot in command · 156 in the last 90 days · 46 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 9 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 99 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.75 inHg
- Observed at
- KDVT
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.