# NTSB WPR10CA478: Robinson R22, N856HA, Portland, OR, September 30, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 29, 2010, 17:45 local (Sep 30, 2010, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Portland, OR - Coordinates: 45.540554, -122.949996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5406&lon=-122.9500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Prop/jet/rotor blast/suction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77460 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA478 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77460/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77460 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA478 ## Probable cause The student pilot's decision to hover-taxi behind a jet, resulting in the helicopter encountering jet wash and rolling over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 MARINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7640115), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 MARINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=7640115), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Prop/jet/rotor blast/suction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 MARINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md?model=7640115), [All aircraft, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 MARINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=7640115), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was returning to his home airport when the accident occurred. On final approach, the pilot noted another helicopter was at the parking area, so he altered his course towards taxiway "A" and finished his approach coming to a hover about 3 to 5 feet above the ground. He then commenced to hover-taxi to his parking spot. The student pilot stated that in order to reach his intended parking spot he would have to pass behind an Embraer jet that was holding short of the runway. The pilot reported that he was not expecting the jet blast produced by the turbine engines, and as the helicopter passed behind the airplane, it yawed to the left and rolled onto its side, impacting the ground. According to witnesses, the accident helicopter passed about 30 feet behind the jet at an altitude of about 3 feet above the ground. ## Factual narrative The pilot said he was returning to his home airport when the accident occurred. On final approach, the pilot noted another helicopter was at the parking area, so he altered his course towards taxiway "Alpha" and finished his approach coming to a hover about 3 to 5 feet above the ground. He then commenced to hover-taxi to his parking spot. The student pilot stated that in order to reach his intended parking spot he would have to pass behind an Embraer jet that was holding short of the runway. The pilot reported that he was not expecting the jet blast produced by the turbine engines, and as the helicopter passed behind the airplane, it yawed to the left and rolled onto its side, impacting the ground. According to witnesses, the accident helicopter passed 10 meters (33 feet) behind the jet, at an altitude of about 3 feet above the ground. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N856HA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N856HA-2011-01-18), registration cancelled 2011-01-18, S/N 1894M (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON R22 (MARINER) - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 MARINER](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-mariner) (registry code 7640115) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1894m - Airframe hours: 8830 - Engines: Textron Lycoming O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Hillsboro Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Hillsboro Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 2, 2010, 66 hours before - Departed: 7S5, Independence, OR - Destination: HIO, Portland, OR - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: HIO, Portland-Hillsboro Airport, runway 30, 6,600 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 43; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 76 total, 76 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 76 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 45° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: HIO ## 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 20100929046319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100929046319A), Sep 29, 2010: Robinson He R22 MARINER, Hillsbor, OR, Substantial damage. The helicopter was cleared to parking at hio. Approaching from the north west just south of the tower the aircraft was cleared to cross rwy 2 and follow… ## Other investigations on N856HA (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA04CA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04CA122), Jul 5, 2004: Robinson R22 Mariner (N856HA), Hillsboro, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in an uncontrolled descent and subsequent roll over. Low altitude flight and the pilot's encounter with settling with power were… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77460. 635 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 539 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338885&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338887&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-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.