# NTSB WPR12CA405: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N212SH, Lake Newman, WA, September 7, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 7, 2012, 12:10 local (19:10 UTC) - Place: Lake Newman, WA - Coordinates: 47.799999, -117.108329 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8000&lon=-117.1083&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Spokane FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84968 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA405 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84968/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84968 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA405 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while correcting for the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the helicopter. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed 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) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 85 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); 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 While practicing low-level hovering during a training flight, the student, who had 2 hours of total flight time, was unable to maintain directional control. The flight instructor took control of the helicopter and applied control inputs to arrest the helicopter’s student-induced movement. As the helicopter began to move in the desired direction, the left skid contacted the terrain, and the helicopter rolled over, coming to rest on its left side, which resulted in substantial damage to the main and tail rotor blades, tail cone, and fuselage. According to the instructor, there was no indication of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative While practicing low level hovering during a dual training flight, the student, who had accumulated two hours total flight time, was unable to maintain directional control. The flight instructor therefore took control of the helicopter and applied control inputs to arrest the student induced movement to the right and to the rear. As the helicopter began to move forward and to the left, the flight instructor inadvertently allowed the left skid to come in contact with the terrain. The contact with the terrain resulted in a dynamic rollover, with the helicopter coming to rest on its left side. According to the instructor, there was no indication of a mechanical malfunction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N212SH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N212SH-2018-03-21), registration cancelled 2018-03-21, S/N 3995, built 2005 (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 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3995 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Inland Helicopters Inc - Registered owner: Emerald City Leasing - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 2012 - Departed: KSFF, Spokane, WA - Destination: KSFF, Spokane, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 38; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 7, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 502 total, 368 in this make and model - Student pilot; age 43; injuries: none; seat: right; flight hours: 2 total, 2 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F ## 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 20120907018629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120907018629A), Sep 7, 2012: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Newman Lake, WA, Substantial damage. During an instructional flight, student pilot was practicing hovering over a grass/dirt field when he began to lose control of the hover. With the helicopter… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84968. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Flight Instructor) (item 1, .PDF, 897 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378396&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(Flight%20Instructor)-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Student Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 943 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378399&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(Student%20Pilot)-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Valenti) (item 3, .PDF, 894 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378403&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(Valenti)-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.