# NTSB NYC06LA019: Robinson R-22 Beta, N8176B, Doylestown, PA, October 29, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 29, 2005, 12:11 local (16:11 UTC) - Place: Doylestown, PA - Coordinates: 40.333057, -75.122222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3331&lon=-75.1222&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62740 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC06LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62740/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06LA019 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's inadequate remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent rollover. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown - dynamic rollover - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) ## Analysis The flight instructor and the student pilot were practicing hovering autorotations from about 3 feet above the ground. The student pilot "cut the throttle," and the helicopter descended. The flight instructor could not recall whether he or the student pilot was moving the collective pitch control. The helicopter subsequently impacted the ground "hard," and "started into a dynamic rollover." The flight instructor stated the helicopter's performance at the time of the accident was "fine," and an inspection of the helicopter by an FAA inspector revealed no mechanical abnormalities. ## Factual narrative On October 29, 2005, at 1211 eastern standard time, a Robinson R22 Beta, N8176B, was substantially damaged during a hard landing and subsequent rollover at Doylestown Airport (DYL), Doylestown, Pennsylvania. The certificated flight instructor incurred minor injuries, and the certificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the flight instructor, he and the student pilot were practicing hovering autorotations. They began by performing two or three autorotations about 1 foot above the ground, then climbed the helicopter to about 3 feet above the ground. The flight instructor recalled that the student pilot "cut the throttle," and the helicopter descended. He could not recall whether he or the student pilot was moving the collective pitch control. The helicopter impacted the ground hard, on the rear portion of the left skid and then "started into a dynamic rollover." When asked, the flight instructor stated that the helicopter was performing "fine" at the time of the accident. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the helicopter following the accident, and noted no mechanical abnormalities. The weather reported at Doylestown Airport, at 1154, included winds from 350 degrees at 12 knots, an overcast ceiling at 6,000 feet, and 10 statute miles visibility. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8176B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8176B-2017-06-30), registration cancelled 2017-06-30, S/N 2406, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R-22 Beta - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2406 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 131 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Cent Co Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: DYL, Doylestown, PA - Destination: DYL - Airport: DYL, Doylestown Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 62; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 7,500 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 145 in the last 90 days - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 8 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC) - Wind: 350° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: DYL ## 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 20051029026129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051029026129A), Oct 29, 2005: Robsin R22BETA, Doylestown, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) At the time of the accident the instructor stated that he was demonstrating a hovering autorotation at about 5 ft. with the student following him on the… 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.