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Location:
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Gilgo-Oak Beach-Captree, New York
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Accident Number:
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ERA23LA084
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Date & Time:
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December 11, 2022, 12:20 Local
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Registration:
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N14HT
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Aircraft:
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ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Defining Event:
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Loss of control in flight
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Injuries:
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2 None
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Flight Conducted Under:
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Part 91: General aviation - Instructional
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Analysis
After practicing maneuvers, autorotative approaches, and landings in the local area, the flight instructor and the student pilot were practicing autorotative landings from a hover following a simulated loss of engine power, off-airport, and over sandy terrain. While hovering about 3 ft. above the ground, the student pilot reduced engine power to enter an autorotation. Between 1 and 2 ft. above the ground, a gust of wind struck the helicopter from the right that resulted in the helicopter rolling and drifting to the left. The flight instructor then took control of the helicopter, but the left roll and drift continued, the left skid impacted the ground, and the helicopter experienced a dynamic rollover onto its left side. During the rollover, the main rotor blades impacted the ground and the tailboom and main rotor mast pylon were substantially damaged. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident 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 flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action while supervising the student pilot’s practice autorotation in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
Findings
Personnel issues - Aircraft control - Instructor/check pilot
Aircraft - Lateral/bank control - Not attained/maintained
Environmental issues - Gusts - Response/compensation
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Factual Information
History of Flight
Autorotation - Loss of control in flight (Defining event)
Landing-flare/touchdown - Dynamic rollover
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Flight instructor Information
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Certificate:
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Commercial; Flight instructor
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Age:
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24,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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Single-engine land; Multi-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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Airplane; Helicopter
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Second Pilot Present:
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Yes
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Instructor Rating(s):
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Helicopter; Instrument airplane; Instrument helicopter
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Toxicology Performed:
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Medical Certification:
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Class 1 Without waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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September 26, 2022
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Occupational Pilot:
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No
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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July 21, 2021
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Flight Time:
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1549.7 hours (Total, all aircraft), 609.2 hours (Total, this make and model), 1454.2 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 135.3 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 49.4 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3.2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
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Student pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Private
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Age:
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68,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
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Seat Occupied:
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Right
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Restraint Used:
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3-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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Airplane
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Second Pilot Present:
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Yes
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Instructor Rating(s):
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Toxicology Performed:
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Medical Certification:
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Class 3 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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Flight Time:
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69.5 hours (Total, this make and model)
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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:
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N14HT
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Model/Series:
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R22 BETA
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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Year of Manufacture:
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2006
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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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4040
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Landing Gear Type:
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Skid
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Seats:
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2
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Date/Type of Last Inspection:
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November 30, 2022 100 hour
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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1370 lbs
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Time Since Last Inspection:
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Engines:
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1 Reciprocating
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Airframe Total Time:
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5469 Hrs at time of accident
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Engine Manufacturer:
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Lycoming
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ELT:
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Not installed
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Engine Model/Series:
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O-360-J2A
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Registered Owner:
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Rated Power:
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145 Horsepower
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Operator:
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Operating Certificate(s) Held:
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None
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Operator Does Business As:
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Flying Helicopters Made Easy
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Operator Designator Code:
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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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FRG,75 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
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6 Nautical Miles
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Observation Time:
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11:53 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
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324°
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Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Visibility
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10 miles
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Lowest Ceiling:
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Overcast / 1700 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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None / None
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Wind Direction:
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70°
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Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
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N/A / N/A
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Altimeter Setting:
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30.2 inches Hg
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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4°C / 0°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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Farmingdale, NY (FRG)
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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None
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Destination:
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Farmingdale, NY (FRG)
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Type of Clearance:
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VFR
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Departure Time:
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11:30 Local
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Type of Airspace:
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Class G
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
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2 None
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Passenger Injuries:
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N/A
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Aircraft Fire:
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None
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Ground Injuries:
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N/A
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Aircraft Explosion:
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None
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Total Injuries:
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2 None
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Latitude, Longitude:
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40.647771,-73.333294(est)
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Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
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Freeze, Christopher
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Additional Participating Persons:
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Mahesh Gupta ; FAA/FSDO; Farmingdale , NY
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Original Publish Date:
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June 6, 2023 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=106440
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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), established in 1967, is an independent federal agency mandated by Congress through the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 to investigate transportation accidents, determine the probable causes of the accidents, issue safety recommendations, study transportation safety issues, and evaluate the safety effectiveness of government agencies involved in transportation. The NTSB makes public its actions and decisions through accident reports, safety studies, special investigation reports, safety recommendations, and statistical reviews.
The Independent Safety Board Act, as codified at 49 U.S.C. Section 1154(b), precludes the admission into evidence or use of any part of an NTSB report related to an incident or accident in a civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report. A factual report that may be admissible under 49 U.S.C. § 1154(b) is available here.
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