# NTSB NYC99LA204: Robinson R-22, N20879, Mansfield, MA, August 16, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 1999, 16:37 local (20:37 UTC) - Place: Mansfield, MA - Location: 42.0009° N, 71.1980° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MANSFIELD MUNI (1B9), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0009&lon=-71.1980&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47316 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA204 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47316/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA204 ## Probable cause Was the student pilot's failure to maintain lateral control of the helicopter while bringing it to a hover. A factor in the accident was the student pilot's lack of total experience in helicopters. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - terrain condition - grass - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis With his instructor outside the helicopter watching, the student pilot attempted to bring the helicopter to a hover. With the left skid in the air and the entire right skid on the ground, the helicopter rolled over. No pre-impact failures or malfunctions were found. Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 90-87 (Helicopter Dynamic Rollover) states the following; 'During normal or slope takeoffs and landings with...one skid/wheel on the ground, the bank angle or side drift can place the helicopter in a situation where it is pivoting (rolling) about a skid/wheel which is still in contact with the ground....if a roll rate is permitted to develop, a critical bank angle...may be reached where roll cannot be corrected, even with full lateral cyclic.' The student pilot had logged a total of 27 hours of flight experience with all 27 hours in helicopters. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 1999, at 1637 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R-22, N20879, was substantially damaged when it rolled over and impacted terrain at Mansfield Municipal Airport, Mansfield, Massachusetts. The student pilot received minor injuries, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local solo flight. No flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the student pilot's flight instructor who witnessed the accident, the student was attempting to bring the helicopter to a hover after executing a landing. With the left skid in the air and the entire right skid on the ground, the instructor watched the helicopter roll over. The student added that he felt the helicopter leaning to the right. "The next thing I knew it rolled over." Neither the flight instructor nor student pilot reported any pre-impact failures. Also, they did not report any flight control problems with the helicopter the day of the accident. In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector that responded to the accident did not report identifying any pre-impact malfunctions or failures with the helicopter. Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 90-87 (Helicopter Dynamic Rollover) states the following: "Helicopter pilots in general are required to be skillful in operations on both improved or unimproved surfaces. During normal or slope takeoffs and landings with...one skid/wheel on the ground, the bank angle or side drift can place the helicopter in a situation where it is pivoting (rolling) about a skid/wheel which is still in contact with the ground. When this happens, lateral cyclic control response becomes more sluggish and less effective than for a free hovering helicopter. Consequently, if a roll rate is permitted to develop, a critical bank angle (the angle between the helicopter and the horizon) may be reached where roll cannot be corrected, even with full lateral cyclic." According to the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the student pilot had logged a total of 27 hours of flight experience with all 27 hours in helicopters. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N20879](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20879-2000-09-25), registration cancelled 2000-09-25, S/N 1442 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R-22 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1442 - Airframe hours: 1132 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Northern Lights Helicopters - Registered owner: Beverly Merta - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 9, 1999, 31 hours before - Departed: 1B9 - Airport: 1B9, Mansfield Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 27 total, 27 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 61 °F - Observed at: OWD, 13 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 19990816012449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990816012449A), Aug 16, 1999: Robsin R22, Mansfield, MA, Substantial damage. 1993 Robinson R-22 helicopter crashed on take-off, other circumstances are unknown. (-23) student pilot was taking off on his second solo flight. The left skid… 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.