On December 15, 1996, a Robinson R22 BETA (registration N8311A) operated by Resort Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Lakeport, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: inadequate supervision by the flight instructor (CFI), and his delayed corrective action to the student pilot's abrupt control inputs, thereby allowing the main rotor blades to strike the ground. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 5 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During a helicopter hover training session, a student over-controlled the aircraft, and the instructor's delayed takeover led to a rotor strike and rollover.
Incident Overview
A helicopter training accident occurred during a hover-in-ground-effect lesson. According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), both he and his student were handling the flight controls seconds before the crash. The student abruptly over-controlled the aircraft while attempting to hover, and the CFI reported that he took over the controls "a little bit too late to correct" the student's inputs. Consequently, the main rotor blades struck the ground, and the helicopter rolled over.
Instructor's Observations
The CFI noted that the ground adjacent to the crash site sloped slightly upward, which contributed to his misjudgment of the horizon's location. He had been serving as a rotorcraft flight instructor for approximately two weeks at the time of the accident. No other contributing factors or causal links were identified in the report.
What happened in the 15 Dec 1996 Robinson R22 BETA accident near Lakeport, CA?
During a helicopter hover training session, a student over-controlled the aircraft, and the instructor's delayed takeover led to a rotor strike and rollover.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 15 Dec 1996 involved a Robinson R22 BETA, registration N8311A, operated by Resort Aviation, at Lakeport, CA.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
inadequate supervision by the flight instructor (CFI), and his delayed corrective action to the student pilot's abrupt control inputs, thereby allowing the main rotor blades to strike the ground. Factors relating to the accident were: the CFI's lack of instructing experience and the presence of upsloping terrain.
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