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NTSB Final Report: Gilgo-Oak Beach-Captree, NY

Location:

Gilgo-Oak Beach-Captree, New York

Accident Number:

ERA23LA084

Date & Time:

December 11, 2022, 12:20 Local

Registration:

N14HT

Aircraft:

ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA

Aircraft Damage:

Substantial

Defining Event:

Loss of control in flight

Injuries:

2 None

Flight Conducted Under:

Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

 

 

 

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


Factual Information

History of Flight

Autorotation - Loss of control in flight (Defining event)

Landing-flare/touchdown - Dynamic rollover

Flight instructor Information

Certificate:

Commercial; Flight instructor

Age:

24,Male

Airplane Rating(s):

Single-engine land; Multi-engine land

Seat Occupied:

Left

Other Aircraft Rating(s):

Helicopter

Restraint Used:

3-point

Instrument Rating(s):

Airplane; Helicopter

Second Pilot Present:

Yes

Instructor Rating(s):

Helicopter; Instrument airplane; Instrument helicopter

Toxicology Performed:

 

Medical Certification:

Class 1 Without waivers/limitations

Last FAA Medical Exam:

September 26, 2022

Occupational Pilot:

No

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

July 21, 2021

Flight Time:

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)

Student pilot Information

Certificate:

Private

Age:

68,Male

Airplane Rating(s):

Single-engine land; Multi-engine land

Seat Occupied:

Right

Other Aircraft Rating(s):

Restraint Used:

3-point

Instrument Rating(s):

Airplane

Second Pilot Present:

Yes

Instructor Rating(s):

Toxicology Performed:

 

Medical Certification:

Class 3 With waivers/limitations

Last FAA Medical Exam:

October 18, 2021

Occupational Pilot:

No

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

 

Flight Time:

69.5 hours (Total, this make and model)

 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make:

ROBINSON HELICOPTER

Registration:

N14HT

Model/Series:

R22 BETA

Aircraft Category:

Helicopter

Year of Manufacture:

2006

Amateur Built:

 

Airworthiness Certificate:

Normal

Serial Number:

4040

Landing Gear Type:

Skid

Seats:

2

Date/Type of Last Inspection:

November 30, 2022 100 hour

Certified Max Gross Wt.:

1370 lbs

Time Since Last Inspection:

 

Engines:

1 Reciprocating

Airframe Total Time:

5469 Hrs at time of accident

Engine Manufacturer:

Lycoming

ELT:

Not installed

Engine Model/Series:

O-360-J2A

Registered Owner:

 

Rated Power:

145 Horsepower

Operator:

 

Operating Certificate(s) Held:

None

Operator Does Business As:

Flying Helicopters Made Easy

Operator Designator Code:

 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:

Visual (VMC)

Condition of Light:

Day

Observation Facility, Elevation:

FRG,75 ft msl

Distance from Accident Site:

6 Nautical Miles

Observation Time:

11:53 Local

Direction from Accident Site:

324°

Lowest Cloud Condition:

Visibility

10 miles

Lowest Ceiling:

Overcast / 1700 ft AGL

Visibility (RVR):

 

Wind Speed/Gusts:

9 knots /

Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:

None / None

Wind Direction:

70°

Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:

N/A / N/A

Altimeter Setting:

30.2 inches Hg

Temperature/Dew Point:

4°C / 0°C

Precipitation and Obscuration:

No Obscuration; No Precipitation

 

Departure Point:

Farmingdale, NY (FRG)

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

None

Destination:

Farmingdale, NY (FRG)

Type of Clearance:

VFR

Departure Time:

11:30 Local

Type of Airspace:

Class G

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries:

2 None

Aircraft Damage:

Substantial

Passenger Injuries:

N/A

Aircraft Fire:

None

Ground Injuries:

N/A

Aircraft Explosion:

None

Total Injuries:

2 None

Latitude, Longitude:

40.647771,-73.333294(est)

Administrative Information

Investigator In Charge (IIC):

Freeze, Christopher

 

Additional Participating Persons:

Mahesh Gupta ; FAA/FSDO; Farmingdale , NY

 

Original Publish Date:

June 6, 2023                                                        Investigation Class:

4

Note:

The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.

 

Investigation Docket:

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106440

 

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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