- Date
- January 24, 1994, 12:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place
- Naples, FL
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N525BWRobinson R-22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report November 18, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940124001219A
- Case key
- 37484
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 flight instructor's delayed reaction to take control of the helicopter. Contributing factors were the student pilot's improper use of cyclic and collective controls and his failure to release the flight controls to the flight instructor.
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 certified flight instructor demonstrated a hovering autorotation, then he instructed the student pilot to execute the manuever. The student pilot attempted the hovering autorotation but opened the throttle instead of closing the throttle as required. The instuctor pilot attempted to regain control but the student pilot did not relinquish control. The helicopter pitched up, rotated 360 degrees to the left, struck the ground, then rolled over and came to rest on its right side.
Factual narrative
On January 24, 1994, about 1220 eastern standard time, N525BW, a Robinson R-22 Beta, operated by London Helicopters Inc. experienced a rollover while hovering on a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the instructor reported no injuries. The student pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated about 30 minutes earlier.
The instructor pilot stated that they were practicing hovering autorotations and the student pilot executed the maneuver wrong. The student turned the throttle on instead of off, and then when requested would not release the flight controls. The right rear skid dug in the ground and the helicopter rolled over.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N525BW
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2358
- Airframe hours
- 189
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 124 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- London Helicoper Inc.
- Registered owner
- Intrim Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · November 10, 1993 · 89 hours before
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- APF · Naples Municipal
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
- Pilot
- Age
- 29
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 882 total · 149 in this make and model · 822 as pilot in command · 103 in the last 90 days · 23 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 80° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 18,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- APF
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.