# NTSB WPR23LA043: Robinson Helicopter R22, N948WB, Kapolei, HI, November 11, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 11, 2022 - Place: Kapolei, HI · PHJR airport, west of taxiway C2 - Coordinates: 21.3102, -158.0761 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.3102&lon=-158.0761&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 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 106351 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106351/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106351 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA043 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction’s rapid reduction in throttle during hover autorotation training which resulted in a loss of control and collision with the ground. ## 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, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, while conducting hover autorotation training from about one foot above the ground, the pilot receiving instruction quickly closed the throttle. The helicopter subsequently descended rapidly, caught the left skid on the pavement and rolled over to the left. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom and main rotor blades. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N948WB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N948WB-2023-07-27), registration cancelled 2023-07-27, S/N 2874, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R22 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (registry code 7640102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2874 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 494 - Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Hawaii Pacific Aviation - Registered owner: Hawaii Pacific Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 23, 2022 - Departed: PHNL, Honolulu, HI - Destination: PHJR, Kapolei, HI - Airport: JRF, Kalaeloa (John Rodgers Fld), runway 4L, 8,000 × 200 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 414 total, 141 in this make and model, 182 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 28; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 625 total, 507 in this make and model, 541 as pilot in command, 84.2 in the last 90 days, 18.5 in the last 30 days, 1.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 10 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: PHJR, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR PHJR 120253Z 03010G16KT 10SM FEW049 26/14 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP170 T02610139 55000= ## 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 20221111011809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221111011809A), Nov 11, 2022: Robinson Helicopter Company R22, Kapolei, HI, Substantial damage. On November 11, 2022 at appx 1730 HST, flight instructor and private rated student pilot were conducting a flight to gauge students readiness for commercial… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 31, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106351. 9.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 8.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14820845&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20WPR23LA043_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14787106&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20photo%20WPR23LA043-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.