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Location:
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Miamisburg, Ohio
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Accident Number:
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CEN22LA041
|
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Date & Time:
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November 19, 2021, 11:30 Local
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Registration:
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N221HG
|
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Aircraft:
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Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
|
|
Defining Event:
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Loss of control in flight
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Injuries:
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1 None
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Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional
Analysis
The solo student pilot reported that, just after liftoff and in a low-altitude hover, the helicopter “swung” to the left. The student pilot reported that he “overcorrected” with right pedal and aft cyclic inputs. The helicopter began to spin, and the student pilot pulled up to keep from hitting the ground. The student pilot reported remembering hitting the ground and rolling the throttle off.
A security video showed that shortly after the helicopter lifted off into a low altitude hover it yawed left about 90° and descended before it moved aft and momentarily out of the camera’s view. When it reemerged, the helicopter was in a right spin and impacted the ramp in an upright attitude. The aft tail boom and tail rotor sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
There was another small helicopter operating near the accident helicopter at the time of the accident, however it is unlikely that the rotor wash from the other helicopter would have precluded the student pilot’s ability to maintain control his helicopter.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a low-altitude hover shortly after liftoff.
Findings
Personnel issues - Aircraft control - Pilot
Aircraft - Yaw control - Not attained/maintained
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Factual Information
History of Flight
Maneuvering-hover Loss of control in flight (Defining event)
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Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Student
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Age:
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44,Male
|
|
Airplane Rating(s):
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None
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Seat Occupied:
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Right
|
|
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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None
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Restraint Used:
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3-point
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|
Instrument Rating(s):
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None
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Second Pilot Present:
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No
|
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Instructor Rating(s):
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None
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Toxicology Performed:
|
|
|
Medical Certification:
|
Class 3 With waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
|
May 4, 2021
|
|
Occupational Pilot:
|
No
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
|
|
|
Flight Time:
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48 hours (Total, all aircraft), 48 hours (Total, this make and model), 5 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 22 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 20 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
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Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
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Aircraft Make:
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Robinson Helicopter
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Registration:
|
N221HG
|
|
Model/Series:
|
R22 Beta
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Aircraft Category:
|
Helicopter
|
|
Year of Manufacture:
|
1992
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Amateur Built:
|
|
|
Airworthiness Certificate:
|
Normal
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Serial Number:
|
2197
|
|
Landing Gear Type:
|
High skid
|
Seats:
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2
|
|
Date/Type of Last Inspection:
|
November 12, 2021 Annual
|
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
|
1370 lbs
|
|
Time Since Last Inspection:
|
|
Engines:
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1 Reciprocating
|
|
Airframe Total Time:
|
6066.3 Hrs as of last inspection
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Engine Manufacturer:
|
Lycoming
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|
ELT:
|
Not installed
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Engine Model/Series:
|
O-320-B2C
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|
Registered Owner:
|
|
Rated Power:
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124 Horsepower
|
|
Operator:
|
|
Operating Certificate(s) Held:
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None
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Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
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Conditions at Accident Site:
|
Visual (VMC)
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Condition of Light:
|
Day
|
|
Observation Facility, Elevation:
|
MGY,957 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
|
0 Nautical Miles
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|
Observation Time:
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11:53 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
|
350°
|
|
Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Clear
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Visibility
|
10 miles
|
|
Lowest Ceiling:
|
None
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Visibility (RVR):
|
|
|
Wind Speed/Gusts:
|
8 knots /
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Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
|
None / None
|
|
Wind Direction:
|
10°
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Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
|
N/A / N/A
|
|
Altimeter Setting:
|
30.53 inches Hg
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Temperature/Dew Point:
|
4°C / -6°C
|
|
Precipitation and Obscuration:
|
No Obscuration; No Precipitation
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|
|
Departure Point:
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Miamisburg, OH (MGY)
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
|
VFR
|
|
Destination:
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Miamisburg, OH
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Type of Clearance:
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None
|
|
Departure Time:
|
11:30 Local
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Type of Airspace:
|
Class G
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Airport Information
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Airport:
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Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport MGY
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Runway Surface Type:
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|
|
Airport Elevation:
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957 ft msl
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Runway Surface Condition:
|
Dry
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|
Runway Used:
|
|
IFR Approach:
|
None
|
|
Runway Length/Width:
|
|
VFR Approach/Landing:
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None
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
|
1 None
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Aircraft Damage:
|
Substantial
|
|
Passenger Injuries:
|
|
Aircraft Fire:
|
None
|
|
Ground Injuries:
|
|
Aircraft Explosion:
|
None
|
|
Total Injuries:
|
1 None
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Latitude, Longitude:
|
39.588972,-84.224861(est)
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Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
|
Fox, Andrew
|
|
Additional Participating Persons:
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Paige E. Kakas; Federal Aviation Administration - Cincinnati FSDO ; Cincinnati, OH
|
|
Original Publish Date:
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June 22, 2022 Investigation Class: 4
|
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Note:
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The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
|
|
Investigation Docket:
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https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104280
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