# NTSB SEA05LA070: Robinson R-22 Beta, N303PR, Corvallis, OR, April 5, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 4, 2005, 17:00 local (Apr 5, 2005, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Corvallis, OR - Coordinates: 44.497222, -123.289718 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4972&lon=-123.2897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Portland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61254 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05LA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61254/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA070 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control while attempting to turn in the direction necessary to air-taxi to the landing pad, and the flight instructor's failure to take remedial action soon enough to correct the problems created when the student lost directional control. Factors include a tailwind encountered by the aircraft during the aforementioned turn. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, hover - directional control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The student was at the controls as the instructional flight approached the airport from the east on a practice VOR-A approach. Because the student misunderstood the instructor’s directions to touch down on the numbers of Runway 17, he proceeded to a grassy area between the approach ends of Runway 35 and Runway 27. During the last part of his approach to the grassy area, the student had the helicopter headed into the wind, but when he was about 30 to 40 feet above the ground, he initiated a right turn in order to air-taxi to the helicopter landing pad. During that turn, the helicopter was exposed to a direct tailwind of between five to seven knots, and during that sequence of events, the student failed to maintain directional control, and the aircraft began spinning to the right. Although the instructor pilot took control of the aircraft, her remedial action was not taken soon enough to recover control before the helicopter's left skid impacted the terrain. After the skid hit the terrain, the aircraft rolled over onto its left side, where it came to rest. There were no issues with the helicopter's flight control system, nor any problem with the engine's production of power. ## Factual narrative On April 4, 2005, approximately 1700 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R-22 Beta helicopter, N303PR, impacted the terrain while maneuvering to land at Corvallis Municipal Airport, Corvallis, Oregon. The instructor pilot and her private pilot rated student were not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned by Pacific Rim Aviation, and operated by Avia Aviation, sustained substantial damage. The local 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, which departed the same airport about 75 minutes prior to the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. According to the instructor pilot, the student was at the controls as they approached the airport from the east on a practice VOR-A approach. Because the student misunderstood the instructor's directions to touch down on the numbers of Runway 17 at the termination of the approach, he proceeded to a grassy area between the approach ends of Runway 35 and Runway 27. During the last part of his approach to the grassy area, the student had the helicopter headed into the wind, but when he was about 30 to 40 feet above the ground, he initiated a right turn in order to air-taxi to the helicopter landing pad. During that turn, the helicopter was exposed to a direct tailwind of between five to seven knots, and during that sequence of events, the student failed to maintain directional control, and the aircraft began spinning to the right. Although the instructor pilot took control of the aircraft, her remedial action was not taken soon enough to regain control before the helicopter's left skid impacted the terrain. After the skid hit the terrain, the aircraft rolled over onto its left side, where it came to rest. According to the instructor, there were no issues with the helicopter's flight control system, nor any problem with the engine's production of power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N303PR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N303PR-2018-01-17), registration cancelled 2018-01-17, S/N 1039, built 1989 (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: 1039 - Airframe hours: 9944 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Avia Aviation Services, Inc. - Registered owner: Pacific Rim Aviation, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 10, 2005, 83 hours before - Departed: KCVO, Corvallis, OR - Destination: KCVO, Corvallis, OR - Airport: KCVO, Corvallis Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 33; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 24, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 279 total, 108 in this make and model, 190 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 19; injuries: none; private; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 4, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 112 total, 112 in this make and model, 64 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KCVO ## 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 20050404005389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050404005389A), Apr 4, 2005: Robsin R22BETA, Corvallis, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) Instructional flight. Student flying; initiated approximately 180 degree turn low low pedal turn back to ramp. Aircraft appears to have encountered loss… 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.