- Date
- May 25, 2010, 07:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Kona, HI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N220PERobinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 1, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20100525005819A
- Case key
- 76113
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 student pilot's improper use of the anti-torque controls and failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The accident occurred during the student helicopter pilot’s second solo flight when he attempted to take off. Both the student pilot and his flight instructor, who witnessed the accident, reported that the student pilot applied too much left anti-torque pedal as the collective was raised for the takeoff. The helicopter slid to the left off of the landing pad, then spun to the left with its skids on the ground three times before lifting about two feet into the air and spinning left three more times. The student pilot said that he attempted to reduce collective, but the right skid contacted the ground and the helicopter rolled over onto its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the cabin and tail. The student pilot said that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.
Factual narrative
The accident occurred during the student pilot’s second solo flight when he attempted to take off. Both the student pilot and his flight instructor, who witnessed the accident, reported that the student pilot applied too much left anti-torque pedal as the collective was raised for the takeoff. The helicopter slid to the left off of the landing pad and then spun to the left. The witness reported that the helicopter spun to the left with its skids on the ground three times, then lifted about two feet into the air and spun left three more times. The student pilot said that he attempted to reduce collective, but the right skid contacted the ground and the helicopter rolled over onto its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the cabin and tail. The student pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N220PE
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2972
- Airframe hours
- 3,642
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-C1F, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Hawaii Pacific Aviation Inc, doing business as Mauna Loa Helicopters
- Registered owner
- Hawaii Pacific Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 20, 2010
- Departed
- PHKO · Kona, HI
- Destination
- PHKO · Kona, HI
- Airport
- PHKO · Kona International
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
- Student pilot
- Age
- 43
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 21 total · 21 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 50° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- PHKO
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 509 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.