Robinson R22 N177SR

Summary

On 24 September 2017 at about 16:25 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N177SR, operated by Tumbleweed Leasing Co Inc, was involved in an accident near Santa Barbara, 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

24 September 2017 at 16:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Santa Barbara, California, United States

Nearest airport

Santa Barbara Muni (SBA)

Coordinates

34.4261, -119.8414

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N177SR

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2001

Engines

1

Operator

Tumbleweed Leasing Co Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Santa Barbara → Santa Barbara

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA551

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot’s unstabilized hover, which resulted in ground contact and a dynamic rollover. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the flight instructor in the skid-equipped helicopter, he was providing hover instruction to his airplane-rated student about 3 ft above the ground. The instructor reported that he allowed the student to make the necessary flight control inputs as he guarded the controls. The area was level with 1-ft-tall weeds. The helicopter began to drift laterally and descend. The right skid contacted the weeds, and the helicopter rolled onto its right side. The instructor reported that "I was not quick enough in lowering the collective to prevent full rollover." The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and engine mounts. Per the National Transportation Safety Board's Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the instructor reported that the accident could have been prevented by instructing hover practice at a "higher altitude and away from obstacles that may serve as a pivot point leading to dynamic rollover." The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.