No fatalities

30 Mar 2009: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA — Quantum Helicopeters — Chandler, AZ

Chandler, AZ, United States

On 30 Mar 2009, a ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA operated by Quantum Helicopeters was involved in an aviation accident near Chandler, AZ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot during a hover demonstration and his subsequent loss of helicopter control that resulted in a dynamic rollover. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During a demonstration flight for a prospective student, a helicopter rolled onto its side after a hover attempt, resulting in substantial damage to the rotor system and gearbox.

Accident Overview

A helicopter accident occurred during a training flight intended to demonstrate hover maneuvers to a prospective student with no prior helicopter flying experience. The flight, which had been uneventful for the first hour, involved a certified flight instructor (CFI) and the student.

Sequence of Events

After the initial uneventful flight, the CFI decided to practice hover maneuvers over a turf area adjacent to the airport helipad. The CFI briefed the student on the sensitivity of the helicopter controls during a hover and then passed over control. The student unsuccessfully attempted to perform a hover, after which the CFI regained control. Despite the earlier difficulty, the CFI elected to let the student try to hover again. As he relinquished control, the helicopter rolled to the left. The CFI attempted to correct the deviation, but during the recovery, the low rotor rpm warning horn sounded. He increased the throttle, but the skid made contact with the ground, and the helicopter rolled onto its side.

Damage

The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the rotor system and gearbox during the accident sequence.

Conclusion

No further details about the aircraft, registration, or occupants were provided in the source.

Contributing factors

Instructor/check pilotPerformance/control parameters — Not attained/maintained