Casualties unknown

2003-09-28: Robinson R-22A (N56MU) — East Coast Aero Club — Bedford, MA

Bedford, MA, US

On September 28, 2003, a Robinson R-22A (registration N56MU) operated by East Coast Aero Club was involved in an aviation accident near Bedford, MA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The certified flight instructor's failure to maintain ground clearance and his delayed remedial action, which resulted in a rollover. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot with about 3 hours of helicopter experience was practicing hovering under instruction. The helicopter descended too low, contacted the ground while drifting right, and rolled over. No mechanical malfunctions were reported.

Incident Overview

A certified flight instructor (CFI) was providing flight instruction to a student pilot during a helicopter training flight. The student pilot had accumulated approximately 3 hours of helicopter flight experience at the time of the incident.

Flight Details

According to the CFI, the student pilot was practicing hovering maneuvers. During the exercise, the helicopter descended "too low," as described by the instructor. The helicopter then momentarily contacted the ground while drifting to the right, and subsequently rolled over.

Instructor Statement

The CFI stated that he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions during the flight. No further details regarding the helicopter's condition or the occupants' status were provided in the source.

Additional Context

The source does not specify the aircraft type, registration number, date, operator, location, or time of day. No information about injuries, damage to the helicopter beyond the rollover, or involvement of air traffic control is available. The incident appears to be related to training operations.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20031016X01747. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.