What happened
On February 1, 2015, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, registration PT-HVO, was conducting a flight training mission from the HELIBH helipad in Nova Lima, Minas Gerais. The aircraft was operated by Frisonfly Escola de Aviação Civil Ltda. with an instructor and a student on board.
Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft lost lift and entered a slight right-hand turn, ultimately colliding with the ground approximately 200 meters ahead of the takeoff point and about 100 feet below the initial altitude. The impact caused substantial damage to the airframe, including the skids, windshield, tail cone, tail rotor, stabilizers, and engine. The instructor sustained light injuries, while the student suffered serious injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators determined that the aircraft departed with a weight of 1,350 lbs. While this weight was within the maximum allowable limit for takeoff in ground effect (IGE) of 1,370 lbs, the aircraft exceeded the maximum allowable weight for takeoff out of ground effect (OGE), which was limited to 1,320 lbs under the prevailing atmospheric conditions.
The investigation found that the crew did not perform a running takeoff, which is the standard procedure for the flight school, due to the elevated nature of the helipad. Consequently, the aircraft lacked sufficient forward airspeed to maintain rotor efficiency and lift as it transitioned out of ground effect. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the instructor's instinctive reaction to pull the collective further increased the situation's severity. The presence of a crosswind component and a subsequent shift toward a tailwind during the turn also likely contributed to the loss of performance.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating at a weight that exceeded the maximum takeoff limit for out-of-ground-effect (OGE) conditions.
- Improper application of flight controls, specifically the instructor's decision to increase collective pitch, which exacerbated the loss of lift.
- Failure to follow the school's standardized running takeoff procedure.
- Inadequate forward airspeed to maintain rotor efficiency during the transition from ground effect to out-of-ground effect.
- Flight discipline and pilot judgment issues.