# NTSB WPR24LA139: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N4082J, Olympia, WA, May 3, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 3, 2024, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Olympia, WA · OLM - Coordinates: 46.97, -122.9 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9700&lon=-122.9000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 3, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 194211 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194211/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194211 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA139 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s delayed action to arrest the descending, left pedal turn while maneuvering for a low-altitude hover with the helicopter near the maximum gross weight limitation, which resulted in an impact with the ground and a dynamic rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: dynamic load](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062032): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062032/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062032/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/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: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: 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) - [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 The flight instructor taxied the helicopter from one side of the airport to the other during an instructional flight with a student while the helicopter’s loading was near (about 12 lbs over) its maximum gross weight. As the helicopter approached the intended hover practice area, the instructor began a descending, left pedal turn to align the helicopter into the wind. During the descending turn and while about 10 ft above ground level (agl), the instructor began to add collective to arrest the helicopter’s descent; however, the helicopter continued to descend and impacted the ground with the toe of its right skid, leading to a dynamic rollover. No evidence of pre-accident mechanical malfunction or failure was revealed during a postaccident examination of the helicopter. Thus, given the helicopter’s high gross weight and left turn during the descent (both of which require more antitorque thrust and reduce the amount of engine power available to produce lift), it is likely that the instructor’s action to raise the collective was delayed, which resulted in an inadequate amount of time and altitude for the increased collective to be able to arrest the helicopter’s descent before impact with the ground. ## Factual narrative On May 3, 2024, about 1600 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter R22, N4082J, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Olympia, Washington. The flight instructor received minor injuries, and the student pilot was uninjured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the flight instructor, he and the student pilot were conducting a hover training flight at the Olympia Regional Airport (OLM), Olympia, Washington. Before the accident, the instructor taxied the helicopter about 50 ft agl and 50 kts from a practice area in the southwest corner of the airport toward a practice area near the northeast corner of the airport. As the helicopter approached the second practice area from the southwest, the instructor began a descending pedal turn to the left to realign the helicopter into the wind. During the left pedal turn, the helicopter was in a descent and still traveling in a northerly direction. According to the flight instructor, when the helicopter was about 10 ft agl, he began to raise the collective to arrest the helicopter’s descent, but the helicopter “did not seem to respond” and continued to descend. Subsequently, the right skid struck the ground, the helicopter pitched forward, and the main rotor blades struck the ground and tailboom before the helicopter came to rest on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and the drivetrain. The flight instructor stated that the helicopter had a maximum gross weight operation limitation of 1,370 lbs, that its weight at takeoff was 1,413 lbs, and that its weight at the time of the accident was 1,382 lbs. He stated that he did not observe any engine rpm drop and estimated that he had added about 85% of the available collective before ground impact. Postaccident examination of the airframe and test run of the engine revealed no evidence of any pre-accident anomaly that would have precluded normal operation. Review of maintenance records show that the most recent maintenance was a 100-hour inspection, performed on April 4, 2024. According to the FAA Helicopter Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-21B), “At higher gross weights, the increased power required to hover produces more torque, which means more antitorque thrust is required…. Strong crosswinds and tailwinds may require the use of more tail rotor thrust to maintain directional control. This increased tail rotor thrust absorbs power from the engine, which means there is less power available to the main rotor for the production of lift….” The handbook also stated that, “the following flight characteristics may be expected during maneuvering flight…: [In] left turns, torque increases (more antitorque).” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4082J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4082J), registered now, S/N 1794, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 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: 1794 - Year built: 1991 - Airframe hours: 6007.3 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 4, 2024, 79.5 hours before - Airport: OLM, Olympia Regional Airport - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 7, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 468 total, 218 in this make and model, 308 as pilot in command, 114 in the last 90 days, 73 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; student; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4 total, 4 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: KOLM - METAR: KOLM 032300Z 20006KT 10SM BKN110 18/06 A2978 RMK AO2 T01780056 ## 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 20240503006429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240503006429A), May 3, 2024: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Tumwater, WA, Substantial damage. The FAA was notified by the regional operational control center of an incident that occurred on may 3, 2024, at olympia airport. The incident involved a… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 3, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194211. 29.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17503449&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CFI%206120%20_flat_%20WPR24LA139_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airframe and engine exam summary report (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 989 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19636614&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20and%20Airframe%20Exam%20Summary%20Report-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, CFI (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19637893&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20CFI-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� interview, operator (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 849 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19637772&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Glacier%20owners-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19650329&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Most%20recent%20Mx_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Party form (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19636003&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Robinson%20Party%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Wreckage release (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 18.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19631964&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20Completed_Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident video file (item 8, MOV, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19627879&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=accident%20video-Rel.MOV 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.