# NTSB LAX08CA126: Robinson R22 Beta II, N331MD, Prescott, AZ, May 2, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 1, 2008, 18:30 local (May 2, 2008, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Prescott, AZ - Coordinates: 34.833332, -112.583335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8333&lon=-112.5833&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67939 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67939/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=67939 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA126 ## Probable cause The instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action that resulted in ground contact and a rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/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, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Explosion (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/180); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/180/sequence.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/180/sequence.md) ## Analysis This was the certificated flight instructor's (CFI) first instructional flight with this new primary student. They did a preflight inspection of the helicopter together, and departed for the practice area. Once the student had a general understanding of the controls, they did an approach to a point on the ground that terminated in a hover. The CFI was letting the student manipulate the controls more and more during the hover. The CFI positioned the helicopter for a slight right quartering headwind to compensate for translating tendencies. During hover, the helicopter exhibited a pendulum oscillation that is common for new students learning to hover. During one of the right lateral oscillations, the helicopter unexpectedly lost altitude. The right skid contacted the ground, and the helicopter rolled onto its right side. Within seconds, it caught on fire. Both pilots exited immediately. The CFI stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Factual narrative On May 1, 2008, about 1830 mountain standard time (MDT), a Robinson R22 Beta II, N331MD, collided with terrain near Prescott, Arizona. Guidance Helicopters, Inc., was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) sustained serious injuries and the student pilot sustained minor injuries; the helicopter sustained substantial damage by a post crash fire. The local instructional flight departed Prescott about 1800. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The CFI submitted a written report. This was his first instructional flight with this student. They did a preflight inspection of the helicopter together, started up, and departed northwest for the practice area. Once the student had a general understanding of the controls, they did an approach to a tire that terminated in a hover. The CFI was letting the student manipulate the controls more and more during the hover. The CFI set up the helicopter for a slight right quartering headwind to compensate for translating tendencies. The CFI stated that during hover, the helicopter exhibited pendulum action that is common for new students learning to hover. During one of the right lateral oscillations, the helicopter unexpectedly lost altitude. The right skid contacted the ground, and the helicopter rolled over onto its right side. Within seconds, it caught on fire. Both pilots exited immediately. The CFI stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The CFI stated that he might have prevented the accident by maintaining a greater skid height while giving instruction, and stopping the lateral and aft movement sooner. He also could have stayed on the controls longer giving the student more time to become familiar with them. He thought that lowering the collective immediately might have prevented the rollover. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N331MD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N331MD-2009-12-16), registration cancelled 2009-12-16, S/N 2886, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 Beta II - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (registry code 7640102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2886 - Airframe hours: 6129 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Guidance Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 1, 2008 - Departed: PRC, Prescott, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 32; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2; last flight review April 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 992 total, 659 in this make and model, 183 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 21; student; medical: class 1; seat: right; flight hours: 41 total, 0 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point -6 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: PRC, 10 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 20080501835959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080501835959A), May 1, 2008: Robsin R22, Prescott, AZ, Destroyed. (-23) On may 1, 2008 at 1820 MST, Robinson R-22, N331MD, was operating in flight training. Control was lost at low altitude while the student was in command of… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 29, 2008, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=67939. 840 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 840 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40294094&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.