# NTSB WPR19TA131: Robinson R22, N7532R, Lincoln Park, NJ, May 2, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: May 2, 2019, 15:38 local (19:38 UTC) - Place: Lincoln Park, NJ - Coordinates: 40.947498, -74.314445 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9475&lon=-74.3144&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 99364 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19TA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99364/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99364 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19TA131 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while transitioning from a hover to forward flight, which resulted in a loss of control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check 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) ## 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 was conducting an introductory flight with the student pilot. After an approximate 40-minute flight, with the helicopter in a stable hover about 5 to 10 ft above ground level, the instructor initiated a hover taxi to the parking area. The instructor recalled that he heard the low rotor rpm warning horn sound, and the helicopter simultaneously began a violent yaw to the right while the nose pitched up. The instructor further stated that he immediately attempted to regain control by rolling the throttle to idle to arrest the yaw. Despite his efforts, the tail rotor impacted the ground, and the helicopter began to spin more rapidly, completing numerous 360° rotations. The helicopter came to rest on its right side. Examination of the helicopter revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the instructor’s failure to maintain yaw control while transitioning to forward flight. ## Factual narrative On May 02, 2019, at 1538 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta II, N7532R, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Lincoln Park, New Jersey. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The flight instructor stated that the purpose of the flight was to perform an introductory demonstration flight with the student pilot. After departing and performing low-level maneuvers for about 30 minutes, the flight instructor opted to return to the airport to practice hovering. After hovering for about 10 minutes, they decided to taxi back to the parking area and end the flight. The instructor assumed authority of the controls and, with the helicopter in a stable hover about 5 to 10 ft above ground level, he was planning to taxi forward to the parking area. The flight instructor recalled that he heard the low rotor rpm warning horn sound and the helicopter simultaneously began a violent yaw to the right while the nose pitched up. The instructor further stated that he immediately attempted to regain control by rolling the throttle to idle to arrest the yaw. Despite his efforts, the tail rotor struck the ground. The helicopter began to spin more rapidly and completed between four to seven full 360° rotations. The helicopter came to rest on its right side. A postaccident examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the main rotor, fuselage, and tail boom. The inspector confirmed flight control continuity from the main rotor to the tail section. An examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7532R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7532R), registered now, S/N 3554, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson 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: 3554 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 5872 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Garden State Helicopters - Registered owner: Spitzer Helicopter Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 2019, 54 hours before - Departed: N07, Lincoln Park, NJ - Destination: N07, Lincoln Park, NJ - Airport: N07, Lincoln Park - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 18, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,514 total, 507 in this make and model, 1,437 as pilot in command, 143 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KCDW, 5 nm away ## 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 20190502003799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190502003799A), May 2, 2019: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Lincoln Park, NJ, Destroyed. On 5/2/2019 at approximately 1538 EDT, the helicopter was on an introduction flight for a new prospective student. After the short flight the helicopter made… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 24, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99364. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8139889&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 6 photos, 736 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8140123&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Photos (courtesy of FAA) (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 356 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11842225&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z%20-%20Attachment%2002%20-%20Photos-Rel.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.