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Location:
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Auburn, Washington
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Accident Number:
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WPR22LA220
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Date & Time:
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June 18, 2022, 16:23 Local
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Registration:
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N944BC
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Aircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional
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.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: 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
Personnel issues - Aircraft control - Student/instructed pilot
Personnel issues -Monitoring other person - Instructor/check pilot
Personnel issues - Delayed action - Instructor/check pilot
Environmental issues - Soft surface - Effect on equipment
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Factual Information
History of Flight
Maneuvering-hover - Loss of control in flight (Defining event)
Maneuvering-hover - Dynamic rollover
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Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Commercial; Flight instructor; Private
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Age:
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44,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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Single-engine land
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Seat Occupied:
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Left
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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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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Instructor Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Toxicology Performed:
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Medical Certification:
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Class 2 With waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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October 18, 2021
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Occupational Pilot:
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No
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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May 14, 2022
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Flight Time:
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530 hours (Total, all aircraft), 132 hours (Total, this make and model)
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Student pilot Information
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Certificate:
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None
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Age:
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13,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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None
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Seat Occupied:
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Right
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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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Instructor Rating(s):
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None
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Toxicology Performed:
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Medical Certification:
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None None
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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Occupational Pilot:
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No
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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Flight Time:
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5 hours (Total, all aircraft), 4 hours (Total, this make and model), 4 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 4 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 COMPANY
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Registration:
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N944BC
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Model/Series:
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R44 II
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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Year of Manufacture:
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2013
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Amateur Built:
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Airworthiness Certificate:
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Normal
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Serial Number:
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13484
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Landing Gear Type:
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None; Skid
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Seats:
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4
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Date/Type of Last Inspection:
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March 1, 2022 Annual
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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2500 lbs
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Time Since Last Inspection:
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35 Hrs
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Engines:
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1 Reciprocating
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Airframe Total Time:
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1349.8 Hrs as of last inspection
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Engine Manufacturer:
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Lycoming
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ELT:
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Installed
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Engine Model/Series:
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IO-540-AE1A5
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Registered Owner:
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Rated Power:
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245 Horsepower
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Operator:
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On file
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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:
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Visual (VMC)
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Condition of Light:
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Day
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Observation Facility, Elevation:
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KSEA,369 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
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8 Nautical Miles
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Observation Time:
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16:53 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
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334°
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Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Few / 3700 ft AGL
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Visibility
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10 miles
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Lowest Ceiling:
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Overcast / 5000 ft AGL
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Visibility (RVR):
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Wind Speed/Gusts:
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9 knots /
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Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
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/
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Wind Direction:
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220°
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Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
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/
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Altimeter Setting:
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30.04 inches Hg
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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16°C / 9°C
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Precipitation and Obscuration:
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No Obscuration; No Precipitation
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Departure Point:
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Auburn, WA
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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None
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Destination:
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Auburn, WA
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Type of Clearance:
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None
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Departure Time:
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Type of Airspace:
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Class G
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Airport Information
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Airport:
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AUBURN MUNI S50
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Runway Surface Type:
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Airport Elevation:
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63 ft msl
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Runway Surface Condition:
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Soft;Vegetation
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Runway Used:
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IFR Approach:
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None
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Runway Length/Width:
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VFR Approach/Landing:
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None
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
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1 Minor
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Passenger Injuries:
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1 Minor
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Aircraft Fire:
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None
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Ground Injuries:
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Aircraft Explosion:
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None
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Total Injuries:
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2 Minor
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Latitude, Longitude:
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47.324274,-122.22765
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Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
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Simpson, Eliott
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Additional Participating Persons:
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Rod Ziegler; FAA FSDO; Seattle
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Original Publish Date:
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November 3, 2022 Investigation Class:
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4
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Note:
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The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
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Investigation Docket:
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https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105294
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