# NTSB WPR14CA256: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N681SH, Long Beach, CA, June 20, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 20, 2014, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Long Beach, CA - Coordinates: 33.813888, -118.156669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8139&lon=-118.1567&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 89498 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA256 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89498/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89498 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA256 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering for landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · 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](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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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) - [Landing: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231); 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 During a solo training flight, the student pilot was maneuvering the helicopter while attempting to land and overshot the landing pad. Before returning to the landing pad, the helicopter began to turn to the right and he applied corrective left pedal input, however the right turn continued and accelerated. The pilot believed either the tailrotor failed or there was a loss of tailrotor effectiveness and lowered the collective. The helicopter touched down still turning with a slight nose up pitch and subsequently rolled over onto the left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and main rotor drive system. A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative During a solo training flight, the student pilot was maneuvering the helicopter while attempting to land and overshot the landing pad. Before returning to the landing pad, the helicopter began to turn to the right and he applied corrective left pedal input, however the right turn continued and accelerated. The pilot believed either the tailrotor failed or there was a loss of tailrotor effectiveness and lowered the collective. The helicopter touched down still turning with a slight nose up pitch and subsequently rolled over onto the left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and main rotor drive system. A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N681SH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N681SH-2017-06-29), registration cancelled 2017-06-29, S/N 3430, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA (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: 3430 - Year built: 2003 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: HHR, HAWTHORNE, CA - Destination: LGB, Long Beach, CA - Airport: LGB, Long Beach /Daugherty Field/ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: right; flight hours: 26.2 total, 26.2 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KLGB ## 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 20140620010399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140620010399A), Jun 20, 2014: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Long Beach, CA, Substantial damage. On June 20, about 1020 PST (pacific standard time), a Robinson R-22, N681SH was substantially damaged when it rolled over on its side while attempting to land… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 12, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89498. 104 KB in all. - FAA-Pilot Statement (Email) (item 1, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416457&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA-Pilot%20Statement%20(Email)-Master.PDF - FAA-Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416458&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA-Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - CFI-Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416459&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CFI-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.