Robinson R22 N512GS

Summary

On 19 February 2019 at about 22:00 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N512GS, operated by Tampa Bay Aviation, was involved in an accident near Clearwater, Florida, 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

19 February 2019 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Clearwater, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Clearwater Air Park (CLW)

Coordinates

27.9758, -82.7564

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N512GS

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1998

Engines

1

Operator

Tampa Bay Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Clearwater → Clearwater

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA141

Nobody was injured.

The flight instructor's failure to maintain sufficient altitude over uneven terrain during a hover taxi, which resulted in ground contact and a subsequent dynamic rollover. 

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 going to demonstrate a maneuver to his airplane-rated student. The instructor reported that he air taxied the helicopter to the departure end of the runway. He then slowed down the helicopter, and while turning and hover taxiing over the grassy area between the taxiway and the runway, the right skid's toe contacted the uneven ground. The helicopter pivoted around the toe and rolled onto its side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and rotor systems. The instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.