Robinson R44 N441JL

Summary

On 2 June 2016 at about 17:00 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N441JL, operated by 702 Helicopter Inc., was involved in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, 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

2 June 2016 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

North Las Vegas (VGT)

Coordinates

36.2092, -115.1953

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N441JL

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2000

Engines

1

Operator

702 Helicopter Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Las Vegas → Las Vegas

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA279

Nobody was injured.

The pilot receiving instruction's incorrect action of interfering with the flight controls and failure to comply with the flight instructor's commands, which resulted in a loss of lateral bank control and a rollover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that during a helicopter "discovery flight" he was providing instruction to an airplane rated private pilot. The flight instructor further reported that prior to takeoff he told the pilot receiving instruction, "I am going to do the takeoff, and you can feel the controls." As soon as the helicopter entered a hover after takeoff, the pilot receiving instruction "put in strong left input" with the cyclic and would not stop after repeated instruction to let go of the flight controls. Subsequently, the helicopter's left main skid touched down and the helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its left side. The tail boom was substantially damaged. The flight instructor did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported on the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/ Operator Aircraft Accident Report, within the owner/ operator safety recommendation section, he will not allow student pilots to touch the flight controls below 500 feet above the ground, until he is comfortable with the student.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.