Robinson R 22 BETA N457SH

Summary

On 3 July 2007 at about 14:33 local time, a Robinson R 22 BETA registered N457SH, operated by Silver State Helicopters LLC, was involved in an accident near Long Beach, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 July 2007 at 14:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Long Beach, California, United States

Nearest airport

Long Beach Airport (LGB)

Coordinates

33.8178, -118.1514

Aircraft

Robinson R 22 BETA

Registration

N457SH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Silver State Helicopters LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Long Beach → Long Beach

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA07CA193

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot's improper use of the throttle and cyclic, and the certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision, which resulted in the collision with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were practicing hover autorotations. The CFI noted that the student had expressed difficulty with sufficient pedal inputs in the past, and the helicopter would yaw excessively to the left. The CFI demonstrated the maneuver to the student, showing him to establish the helicopter in a 2-foot hover, look outside and pick a reference point to maintain heading, position his hand on the throttle to roll it off, and as throttle is rolled off, prepare to apply right pedal to counteract the left yaw. The student pilot then assumed the controls and configured the helicopter for the hovering autorotation. The CFI had his left hand on the collective, his right hand on the cyclic, and his feet were guarding the pedals. The student counted down, "three, two, one…" and rolled the throttle on while adding right pedal. The helicopter yawed hard and fast to the right and the student pulled aft cyclic. The CFI attempted to regain control of the helicopter; however, the tail cone contacted the ground and the helicopter came to rest on its left side. The CFI stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter, prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.