Robinson R22 BETA N7687H

Summary

On 3 February 2009 at about 17:30 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N7687H, operated by Scenic Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Sevierville, Tennessee, 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 February 2009 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sevierville, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Gatlinburg - Pigeon Forge (GKT)

Coordinates

35.8578, -83.5286

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N7687H

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Scenic Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sevierville → Sevierville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09CA155

Nobody was injured.

The flight instructor's improper remedial action following the student pilot's loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's loss of control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the flight instructor, the student pilot was hover taxiing the helicopter along a taxiway that paralleled Runway 10 when she asked him to stop and make a left, 90-degree pedal turn. At the time, winds were from 230 degrees at 8 knots. The student pilot initiated the pedal turn and, as the helicopter reached the 90-degree position, it began a spin to the left, which increased in velocity. The flight instructor then advised the student pilot that she had the controls; however, the spin would not stop. It became "very fast and I wasn't sure which way we were spinning." The flight instructor then reduced the throttle, but the spin "got faster," so she quickly lowered the collective "to get the helicopter on the ground." The helicopter then landed hard, the left landing gear impacted the engine exhaust, the tail rotor blades hit the ground and were sheared off, and the tail boom was separated near the transmission. No preaccident mechanical anomalies were noted with the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.