# NTSB WPR09CA173: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N74815, Chandler, AZ, March 30, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 30, 2009, 14:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Chandler, AZ - Coordinates: 33.26889, -111.811111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2689&lon=-111.8111&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73575 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA173 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73575/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73575 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA173 ## Probable cause The certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot during a hover demonstration and his subsequent loss of helicopter control that resulted in a dynamic rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The purpose of the flight was for the certified flight instructor (CFI) to demonstrate the helicopter to a prospective student who had no prior helicopter flying experience. They had just performed an hour of uneventful flight and decided to practice hover maneuvers over a turf area adjacent to the airport helipad. The CFI briefed the student on the sensitivity of the helicopter controls during a hover and then passed over the controls to the student. The student unsuccessfully attempted to perform a hover and the CFI then regained control. He elected to let the student try to hover again, and as he relinquished control, the helicopter rolled to the left. The CFI attempted to correct the deviation; however, during recovery the low rotor rpm warning horn sounded. He increased the throttle, but the skid made contact with the ground and the helicopter rolled onto its side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the rotor system and gearbox during the accident sequence. ## Factual narrative The purpose of the flight was for the certified flight instructor (CFI) to demonstrate the helicopter to a prospective student who had no prior helicopter flying experience. They had just performed an hour of uneventful flight, and decided to practice hover maneuvers over a turf area adjacent to the airport helipad. The CFI briefed the student on the sensitivity of the helicopter controls during a hover, and then passed over control. The student unsuccessfully attempted to perform a hover, and the CFI then regained control. He elected to let the student try to hover again, and as he relinquished control, the helicopter rolled to the left. The CFI attempted to correct the deviation; however, during recovery the low rotor rpm warning horn sounded. He increased the throttle, but the skid made contact with the ground and the helicopter rolled onto its side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the rotor system and gearbox during the accident sequence. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N74815](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N74815), registered now, S/N 3980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER 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-J2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-j2a) (registry code 42314, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3980 - Airframe hours: 3616 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Delta Leasing Inc., doing business as Quantum Helicopeters - Registered owner: Delta Leasing Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 13, 2009, 80 hours before - Departed: CHD, Chandler, AZ - Destination: CHD, Chandler, AZ - Airport: CHD, Chandler Municipal, runway 01, 100 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 35; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2; last flight review October 4, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 846 total, 846 in this make and model, 777 as pilot in command, 239 in the last 90 days, 63 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 15 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: IWA ## 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 20090330004729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090330004729A), Mar 30, 2009: Robsin R22, Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) A flight instructor with low experience (4 months) was conducting an "introductory" flight with a possible future student. The CFI was allowing the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 5, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73575. 411 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 411 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40311646&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.