Robinson R22 BETA N7197Z
20 May 2011 · Lansing, Illinois, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 20 May 2011 at about 18:37 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N7197Z, operated by Sun Aero Helicopters Inc, was involved in an accident near Lansing, Illinois, United States. One person was 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.
The record
- Date
- at 18:37
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lansing, Illinois, United States
- Nearest airport
- Lansing Municipal Airport (IGQ)
- Coordinates
- 41.5347, -87.5294
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA
- Registration
- N7197Z
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Sun Aero Helicopters Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Lansing → Lansing
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN11CA351
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter while hovering.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The student pilot reported that it was his first solo helicopter flight. He performed two takeoffs and landings with his flight instructor on board, and then the instructor got out of the helicopter. The student pilot took off, flew a normal traffic pattern, and made a successful full-stop landing. He taxied off the runway and set the helicopter back down on the taxiway. He lifted off the ground again into a hover and started to taxi to the ramp where the instructor was located. The instructor observed the student pilot lose control of the helicopter as he was doing a pedal turn to the left. The helicopter did a “massive yaw, pitch, and roll.” It hit the ground on its aft skids, bending the aft skid tube. It bounced up, rolled left in a nose-high attitude, and the tail rotor struck the ground. The operator reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with or failure of the helicopter.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R22 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 May 2011 | Robinson R22 | Julia Creek, Australia, Australia | Versatile Helicopter Services | Fatal | 1 |
| 4 Oct 2011 | Robinson R22 BETA | Hibbing, Minnesota, United States | Casey M. Hansen | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 2011 | Robinson R22 BETA | Dayton, New Jersey, United States | Nassau Helicopters Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 Dec 2011 | Robinson R22 BETA | Waipahu, Hawaii, United States | Mauna Loa Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 18 Jun 2011 | Robinson R22 BETA | Prescott, Arizona, United States | Guidance Helicopters Inc | No injuries | - |
| 11 Mar 2011 | Robinson R22 BETA II | North Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | 702 Helicopters | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jun 2011 | Boeing B-17G | Oswego, Illinois, United States | Liberty Foundation, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Feb 2011 | Beechcraft 58 | Prospect Heights, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Jun 2011 | Beechcraft B200 | Waukegan, Illinois, United States | Pontiac Flight Service Inc | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jul 2011 | Hamlin John D CH701 | Paxton, Illinois, United States | Shawn D, Bennett | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 Apr 2011 | Boeing 737-7Q8 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Southwest Airlines Co | No injuries | - |
| 1 Dec 2011 | Learjet 45 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Air Clayco Inc | No injuries | - |