Robinson R44 II N666U

Summary

On 23 May 2022 at about 14:41 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N666U was involved in an accident near Nashua, New Hampshire, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 May 2022 at 14:41

Classification

Accident

Location

Nashua, New Hampshire, United States

Nearest airport

Boire Field Airport (ASH)

Coordinates

42.7824, -71.5207

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N666U

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2004

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA22LA236

2 people had minor injuries.

The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during the takeoff, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was receiving a checkout in the helicopter from the flight instructor, and they were practicing pick-ups and touchdowns on the non-movement area of the airport. The flight instructor was demonstrating a pick-up to the pilot when the helicopter rolled left (due to a wind gust) and reached an angle where the instructor described that he was unable to recover, resulting in a dynamic rollover. The fuselage and main rotor were substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation, nor did the flight instructor report any.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.