ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22
WILKES-BARRE, PA — July 10, 2017
Event Information
| Date | July 10, 2017 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA17CA406 |
| Event ID | 20170711X95130 |
| Location | WILKES-BARRE, PA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 41.29722, -75.85222 |
| Airport | WILKES-BARRE WYOMING VALLEY |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | ROBINSON HELICOPTER |
| Model | R22 |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The flight instructor's delayed remedial action to maintain helicopter altitude during hover flight instruction, which resulted in the helicopter skid contacting a crack in the runway and a dynamic rollover.
Full Narrative
The helicopter flight instructor reported that he was teaching his student to hover.
The helicopter was at a 2-foot hover and began drifting to the left. The left rear skid contacted the ground and a left roll ensued. The student pilot pulled up on the collective, and the instructor attempted to push the collective down. A dynamic rollover occurred, and the helicopter rolled onto its left side.
The flight instructor reported that wind gusts may have been a factor in the accident.
According to the METAR that was being monitored by the flight instructor about the time of the accident, the wind was from 210° at 8 knots. No wind gusts and no convective activity was reported via METAR that day.
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and the main rotor system.
The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.