# NTSB WPR11LA377: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N8332T, Deer Park, WA, August 8, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 2011, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Deer Park, WA - Coordinates: 47.976943, -117.431114 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9769&lon=-117.4311&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 November 26, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81457 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA377 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81457/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81457 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA377 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter and his delay in relinquishing control to the flight instructor, which resulted in the instructor’s delayed remedial actions and subsequent hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [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) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that this was the second training flight for the student. The student was practicing hovering and allowed the helicopter to drift right, and he began to lower the collective. The flight instructor announced repeatedly that he was taking the flight controls, but the student did not relinquish the controls. Control of the helicopter was momentarily lost, and it landed hard. The student said that, while hovering, the helicopter began turning to the right so he tried to correct with the left pedal. The student stated that he "overdid it with the pedal," and the helicopter spun to the left. He reported that the helicopter did "several 360's banking down and the left skid hit the ground," after which the instructor regained control and landed the helicopter hard in a grass field. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 2011, approximately 1400 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N8332T, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing following a loss of control while hovering near Deer Park, Washington. The flight instructor and his student were not injured. Inland Helicopters, Inc., Spokane, Washington, was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight, which had originated about 20 minutes before the accident. A flight plan had not been filed. The flight instructor reported that this was the second training flight for the student. The student was practicing hovering and allowed the helicopter to drift right. The student also began to lower the collective. The flight instructor announced repeatedly that he was taking the flight controls, but the student did not relinquish the controls. Control of the helicopter was momentarily lost, and it landed hard. The skids were spread, the firewall and fuselage were wrinkled, and the fuel tank's mounting straps were compromised. The student said that while hovering the helicopter began turning to the right so he tried to correct with left pedal. The student stated that he "overdid it with the pedal" and they spun to the left. He reported that they did "several 360's banking down and the left skid hit the ground," after which the instructor regained control and landed the helicopter hard in a grass field. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8332T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8332T), registered now, S/N 2587, built 1996 (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: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2587 - Airframe hours: 9560 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Inland Helicopters, Inc. - Registered owner: Carter Richard K DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 27, 2011 - Departed: SFF, Spokane, WA - Destination: DEW, Deer Park, WA - Airport: DEW, Deer Park ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 33; injuries: none; flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 14, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 486 total, 320 in this make and model, 443 as pilot in command, 129 in the last 90 days, 88 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 41; injuries: none; seat: right; flight hours: 2 total, 2 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: DEW ## 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 20110808022009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110808022009A), Aug 8, 2011: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Deer Park, WA, Substantial damage. The student pilot and instructor pilot were practicing hovering in the run-up area of runway 16 when the helicopter started drifting to the right and… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 7, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81457. 814 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 814 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374238&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.