# NTSB WPR22LA220: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N944BC, Auburn, WA, June 18, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 18, 2022, 16:23 local (23:23 UTC) - Place: Auburn, WA · grass practice helipad - Coordinates: 47.324274, -122.22765 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3243&lon=-122.2276&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105294 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105294/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105294 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA220 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s loss of helicopter control and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action while providing hover training which resulted in a dynamic rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/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 R44 II, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/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 R44 II, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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 R44 II, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor was providing initial flight training to the student. After completing hover and pattern work, they transitioned to a raised grass helicopter practice pad on the airport. After the student completed a successful set-down, the instructor asked him to lift the helicopter into a hover. As the helicopter lifted off the ground, it began to move aft, and the instructor applied forward cyclic. However, the helicopter continued, and he felt the right skid touch the ground. The helicopter then started to roll, and sensing that this could be the beginning of a dynamic rollover event, he reduced collective pitch control, however the helicopter yawed to the left and rolled over. The fuselage and tailboom were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N944BC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N944BC-2024-02-24), registration cancelled 2024-02-24, S/N 13484, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640122) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (registry code 41899, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 13484 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 1349.8 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 245 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2022, 35 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: S50, Auburn Muni - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: minor; commercial, private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 14, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 530 total, 132 in this make and model - Student pilot; age 13; injuries: minor; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5 total, 4 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KSEA, 8 nm away - METAR: METAR KSEA 182353Z 22009KT 10SM FEW037 OVC050 16/09 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP178 T01610089 10172 20133 51007= ## 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 20220618009899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220618009899A), Jun 18, 2022: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Auburn, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot/cfi was giving [privacy data omitted]hovering instruction in a grassy practice area. To correct a backward motion during hover the CFI applied forward… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 3, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105294. 6.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14380538&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=r_6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Interview summaries (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14417914&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Interview%20summaries-Rel.pdf - Auburn minimum standards rules and regulations - handbook excerpt (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 421 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14417639&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Auburn%20Minimum%20Standards%20Rules%20and%20Regulations-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14417788&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.