- Date
- October 8, 2010, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Scappoose, OR
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2356TRobinson R22
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 26, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Case key
- 77526
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 failure to maintain helicopter control during the landing flare and his subsequent interference with the flight instructor's control inputs. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision.
Findings · 5
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
During the instructional helicopter flight, the student pilot and a certified flight instructor (CFI) were practicing pattern work, hover work, and “set downs and pickups.” On the third set down, after the landing skids touched down, the helicopter started to spin to the right about 180 degrees. The CFI said he attempted to correct the yaw; however, the student was “too stiff” on the flight controls. The student pilot overpowered the CFI on the controls and raised the collective, which resulted in the helicopter climbing about 2 to 3 feet above the ground. The helicopter then landed hard breaking the left rear skid. The tail rotor subsequently struck the ground, and the helicopter made one complete rotation before coming to a rest. The CFI reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine prior to the accident. Despite requests from investigators, the student pilot did not provide a statement.
Factual narrative
On October 8, 2010, about 1030 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, N2356T, landed hard and struck the tail rotor on the ground at the Scappoose Industrial Airpark (SPB), Scappoose, Oregon. Hillsboro Aviation operated the helicopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a training flight. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor and left rear portion of the airframe. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan had been filed. According to the CFI, he and the student pilot flew to SPB to practice pattern work, hover work, and some "set downs and pickups.” On the third set down, after the landing skids touched down, the helicopter started to spin to the right about 180 degrees. The CFI attempted to correct the maneuver; however, the student was "too stiff" on the flight controls. The student overcame the CFI and raised the collective, and the helicopter became airborne about 2 to 3 feet above the ground. The helicopter then landed hard breaking the left rear skid. Subsequently, the tail rotor struck the ground and the helicopter made one complete rotation before coming to a rest. The CFI shut down the helicopter, and both the CFI and student pilot exited the helicopter normally. The CFI reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine prior to the accident. Despite requests from investigators, the student pilot did not provide a statement.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2356T
- Reported as
- Robinson R22 (BETA)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2259
- Airframe hours
- 13,030
- Engine
- 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 25, 2010 · 33 hours before
- Departed
- HIO · Portland, OR
- Destination
- SPB · Portland, OR
- Airport
- SPB · Scappoose Industrial Airpark
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 23
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Flight instructor
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 4, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 364 total · 364 in this make and model · 297 as pilot in command · 113 in the last 90 days · 55 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 24
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 5 total · 5 in this make and model · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- SPB
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 4, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 496 KB in all.