Casualties unknown

2007-11-03: Robinson R22 BETA (N3189Z) — Parma, ID

Parma, ID, US

On November 3, 2007, a Robinson R22 BETA (registration N3189Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Parma, ID. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's improper use of the flight controls while performing a hovering autorotation and the flight instructor's excessive remedial action which resulted in a hard landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

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

A flight instructor and student practicing hovering autorotations experienced a loss of control, resulting in a bent cross tube and wrinkled tail boom.

Incident Overview

A flight instructor and a student pilot were practicing hovering autorotations in a helicopter. The student successfully completed two hovering autorotations from a height of 2 inches. The instructor then directed the student to bring the helicopter to a 1-foot hover.

Maneuver and Loss of Control

As the student initiated the maneuver from the 1-foot hover, he applied full right pedal and began to roll the throttle on. This action immediately resulted in a substantial right yaw. The flight instructor corrected by adding left pedal, rolling the throttle off, and lowering the collective. These corrective actions overcorrected for the right yaw, causing a left yaw.

Touchdown and Damage

As the skids touched the ground, the flight instructor fully lowered the collective. The helicopter sustained damage: the aft cross tube was bent, and the tail boom was wrinkled.

Conclusion

The flight instructor reported the sequence of events leading to the accident. No further causal factors were identified in the report.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20071203X01891. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.