- Date
- October 22, 1998, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Scappoose, OR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N474BCRobinson R-22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 11, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19981022029979A
- Case key
- 45163
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
Aircraft control was not maintained. Inadequate remedial action is a factor.
Analysis
The student pilot reported that during his first solo flight, he was turning final to line up with the taxiway next to the runway, when he saw a Cessna aircraft on left base for the runway. The student was positioned about mid-field, over the taxiway, when he heard the Cessna report final approach. The student stated that he was worried about the Cessna and made a left 220 degree turn to check for the Cessna's position. The student stated that he applied too much left pedal and the helicopter turned 360 degrees. The student then tried to make a right 150 degree turn, however, he applied too much right pedal and the helicopter started to spin. The student stated that his altitude was about five feet above the ground and he tried to gain altitude by increasing the collective. The helicopter continued to spin, about five or six times, before it touched down and rolled over.
Factual narrative
On October 22, 1998, at 1500 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R-22, N474BC, operated by Hillsboro Aviation as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, collided with the ground and rolled over at the Scappoose Industrial Airpark, Scappoose, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.
In a written statement, the student pilot reported that prior to his third solo flight, he flew around the traffic pattern twice before dropping his flight instructor off. The student stated that he then took off and remained in the traffic pattern. The student stated that as he was turning final to line up with the taxiway next to runway 15, he saw a Cessna aircraft on left base for runway 15. The student stated that he was positioned about mid-field over the taxiway, when he heard the Cessna report final approach. The student stated that he was worried about the Cessna and made a left 220 degree turn to check for the Cessna's location. The student stated that he applied too much left pedal and the helicopter turned 360 degrees. The student then tried to make a right 150 degree turn, however, he stated that he applied too much right pedal and the helicopter started to spin. The student stated that his altitude was about five feet above the ground and he tried to gain altitude by increasing the collective. The helicopter continued to spin, about five or six times, before the helicopter touched down and rolled over.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N474BC
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1917M
- Airframe hours
- 1,409
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Hillsboro Aviation
- Registered owner
- Roberto Villamil
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 30, 1998 · 90 hours before
- Airport
- 1S4 · Scappoose Industrial, runway 15, 3,999 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 26
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 37 total · 37 in this make and model · 2 as pilot in command · 37 in the last 90 days · 31 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- 1S4
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.