# NTSB WPR14CA354: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N341SL, Long Beach, CA, August 24, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 24, 2014, 14:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Long Beach, CA - Coordinates: 33.817779, -118.151664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8178&lon=-118.1517&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 December 5, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 89937 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA354 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89937/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89937 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA354 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control during a practice hover. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's delayed remedial reaction. ## 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 · 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) - [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) - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/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) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that during practice hovering, the student pilot lost aircraft control and the helicopter yawed towards the right. The flight instructor did not act in a timely manner to maintain control of the helicopter and prevent the tail rotor from contacting the ground during the recovery. Subsequently, the helicopter sustained substantial damage to its tail boom. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that during practice hovering, the student pilot lost aircraft control and the helicopter yawed towards the right. The flight instructor did not act in a timely manner to maintain control of the helicopter and prevent the tail rotor from contacting the ground during the recovery. Subsequently, the helicopter sustained substantial damage to its tail boom. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N341SL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N341SL), registered now, S/N 2299, built 1993 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2299 - Year built: 1993 - Airframe hours: 1501 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Los Angeles Helicopters LLC, doing business as LA Helicopters Flight School - Registered owner: Spitzer Matthew L - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 12, 2014 - Departed: LGB, Long Beach, CA - Destination: LGB, Long Beach, CA - Airport: LGB, Long Beach /Daugherty Field/ - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 27; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 16, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 204.3 total, 146.3 in this make and model, 160.8 as pilot in command, 41.5 in the last 90 days, 23.7 in the last 30 days, 2.7 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 0.8 total, 0.8 in the last 90 days, 0.8 in the last 30 days, 0.8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: LGB ## 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 20140824014089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140824014089A), Aug 24, 2014: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Long Beach, CA, Substantial damage. Student was at pad 6 helipad practicing hovering manuevers when helicopter made an extreme right yaw. The instructor was unable to take control of the pedals… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89937. 687 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 687 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419255&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.