MIA04CA059

NTSB accident investigation · Robinson R22 · Keystone, FL · March 12, 2004

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
March 12, 2004, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
Place
Keystone, FL
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N4370DRobinson R22
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 2, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20040312016749A
Case key
58923

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The inadequate supervision by the flight instructor by allowing the student to lose excessive altitude resulting in a skid impacting the ground and subsequent roll over of the helicopter.

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.

Roll overManeuvering
Altitude - not maintainedDual student
Supervision - inadequatePilot in command(cfi)Cause
Dynamic rollover - inadvertent
Terrain condition - soft

Analysis

The certified flight instructor decided to let the student perform one more steep turn before returning to the hangar. On the last steep turn the student lost more altitude than on previous maneuvers. The instructor took over the controls; however, the helicopter touched down right skid lower than the left with forward left lateral movement resulting in a roll over of the helicopter. The flight instructor stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the helicopter or any of its systems prior to the accident.

Factual narrative

On March 12, 2004, about 0930 eastern standard time, a Robinson R22, N4370D, registered to and operated by Collective Helicopters Corporation, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, rolled over while practicing maneuvers at the Keystone Airpark, Keystone Heights, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The instructor-rated pilot and student pilot received no injuries, and the helicopter incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from Keystone Airpark, Florida earlier that day.

The certified flight instructor stated that he had his student complete several steep turn maneuvers earlier in the practice session and decided to let him perform one more before returning back to the hangar. On the last steep turn the student lost more altitude then on previous maneuvers. According to the instructor he took over the controls; however, the helicopter touched down right skid lower than the left with forward left lateral movement resulting in the helicopter rolling over on to the ground. The flight instructor stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the helicopter or any of its systems prior to the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N4370D
Reported as
Robinson R22
Category
Helicopter
Serial number
1583
Engine
Avco Lycoming O-320-B2C, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Collective Helicopter Corp, doing business as Wings and Rotors
Registered owner
Collective Helicopters Corp.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
42J · Keystone, FL
Destination
42J · Keystone, FL
Airport
42J · Keystone Height Airstrip

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
26
Injuries
None
Certificate
Flight instructor
Instrument ratings
Helicopter
Medical
Class 1
Last flight review
December 20, 2003
Flight hours
320 total · 315 in this make and model · 77 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
59 °F, dew point 43 °F
Altimeter
30.25 inHg
Observed at
KGNV

FAA reports on this event · 1

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