N2327C

On March 4, 1994, at 0932 Pacific standard time, a Robinson R22B helicopter, N2327C, rolled over during landing from a hover at the Long Beach, California, airport. The aircraft was owned and operated by Everything Flyable, Inc., of Long Beach, and was engaged in dual primary flight training. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. Neither the certificated commercial pilot flight instructor nor his dual primary student were injured. The flight originated at the Long Beach airport on the day of the mishap at 0830 as a local area dual instructional flight.

In a telephone interview, the instructor said the 5-hour student was practicing hovering operations. During the accident sequence, the student intended to land and, as the skids approached the tops of the 10 inch tall grass, the student believed the helicopter was on the ground. He then rapidly lowered the collective and relaxed left pedal pressure. The instructor stated that he tried to intervene on the controls; however, the helicopter touched down right skid first with some lateral motion and the helicopter rolled over.