Robinson R22 BETA N2356M

Summary

On 31 August 2023 at about 19:25 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N2356M, operated by N112VG LLC, was involved in an accident near Kingston, New Jersey, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 August 2023 at 19:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Kingston, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Princeton (39N)

Coordinates

40.3726, -74.6198

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N2356M

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1993

Engines

1

Operator

N112VG LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Princeton → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA23FA357

1 person died.

A loss of control, which resulted in the main rotor blade severing the tail boom, for reasons that could not be determined.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was receiving flight training in the helicopter to upgrade his certificate level, and the accident flight was his second solo flight in the helicopter. The pilot’s flight instructor described that the purpose of the flight was to practice approaches to landing in the airport traffic pattern, but for reasons unknown, the pilot departed the airport traffic pattern, climbed to 1,200 above the ground and flew for about 1/2 mile before making a 180° turn. The helicopter continued for several miles before turning towards a nearby river. An eyewitness who was located on the dam of the river was photographing wildlife with a telephoto lens and observed the helicopter flying erratically towards her. Seeing this, captured photographs of the helicopter and accident sequence. As the helicopter approached, it was in a nose-down attitude, then leveled off. Shortly thereafter, the helicopter began a series of counterclockwise rotations and a series of aggressive pitch and roll changes before the main rotor blades contacted the tail boom. The tail rotor assembly was severed and the helicopter subsequently descended and impacted trees, terrain, and water. The tail rotor assembly was not located after exhaustive searches by multiple parties. The witness photos showed the pilot was bent forward at the waist to the point where his head was touching the helicopter’s windscreen. His arms were visible in several photos, but it is unknown if he was manipulating the controls. He remained leaning forward leading up to and after the loss of the tail boom. His hands and feet, and any associated control inputs to the cyclic, collective, or rudder were not observed. Postaccident examination of the engine, airframe, and systems did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation of the engine or airframe. However, with the loss of the tail rotor assembly, a mechanical failure of that system could not be ruled out. In addition, nothing was found indicating a mechanical or foreign object jam of the anti-torque pedals. Toxicological testing yielded negative findings but an autopsy was not performed. Although it is reasonable to consider that an incapacitating medical event might have occurred based on the photographic evidence, such an event is neither supported nor excluded by limited available medical evidence. With the lack of available evidence to support a mechanical failure combined with the lack of medical evidence supporting pilot incapacitation, the cause of the erratic maneuvering leading up to the main rotor blade contact with the tail boom could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.