# NTSB NYC07CA128: Robinson R22 Beta, N302CH, Nashua, NH, May 25, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 25, 2007, 13:41 local (17:41 UTC) - Place: Nashua, NH - Coordinates: 42.781665, -71.514724 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7817&lon=-71.5147&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65866 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07CA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65866/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07CA128 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's inadvertent entry into a vortex ring state (settling with power). Factors to the accident was the tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, taxi - aerial - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - settling with power - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled - Roll over, landing ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, the student pilot and flight instructor were repositioning a Robinson R22 Beta to practice "quick stops." The student pilot was air taxiing the helicopter downwind at 30 feet agl, when she began to slow the helicopter. The flight instructor then took over the flight controls and attempted to do "a left pedal turn" so he could point the helicopter into the wind for landing; however the helicopter did not respond and started to descend. The flight instructor then lowered the collective "slightly" and increased engine power "slightly" to stop the descent without result. He again tried to raise the collective "slightly," but the helicopter continued to descend. As the helicopter was "getting pretty low," the flight instructor turned the helicopter to point the skids in the direction of travel. The front of the skids then made contact with the ground, dug in, and the helicopter nosed over. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter were reported by the flight instructor. ## Factual narrative According to the flight instructor, the student pilot and flight instructor were repositioning a Robinson R22 Beta to practice "quick stops." The student pilot was air taxiing the helicopter downwind at 30 feet agl, when she began to slow the helicopter. The flight instructor then took over the flight controls and attempted to do "a left pedal turn" so he could point the helicopter into the wind for landing; however the helicopter did not respond and started to descend. The flight instructor then lowered the collective "slightly" and increased engine power "slightly" to stop the descent without result. He again tried to raise the collective "slightly," but the helicopter continued to descend. As the helicopter was "getting pretty low," the flight instructor turned the helicopter to point the skids in the direction of travel. The front of the skids then made contact with the ground, dug in, and the helicopter nosed over. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter were reported by the flight instructor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N302CH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N302CH-2013-12-05), registration cancelled 2013-12-05, S/N 3996, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 Beta - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3996 - Airframe hours: 1060.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-J2A 124 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: C-R Helicopters - Registered owner: Stadium Graphics - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2007, 72.6 hours before - Departed: ASH, Nashua, NH - Destination: ASH - Airport: ASH, Boire Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 46; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 362 total, 362 in this make and model, 65 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 105 total, 105 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: ASH ## 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 20070525019479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070525019479A), May 25, 2007: Robsin R22BETA, Nashua, NH, Substantial damage. (-23) After a downwind air taxi, the controls became mushy and the helicopter settled into the ground. There are no reports of any pre-impact malfunctions with… 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.