Summary
On November 03, 2007, a Robinson R22 Beta (N3189Z) was involved in an incident near Parma, ID. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The student pilot's improper use of the flight controls while performing a hovering autorotation and the flight instructor's excessive remedial action which resulted in a hard landing.
The flight instructor reported that he and his student were practicing hovering autorotations. After the student successfully performed two hovering autorotations from a height of 2 inches, the flight instructor had the student bring the helicopter to a 1-foot hover. During initiation of the maneuver from this altitude, the student pilot applied full right pedal and began to roll the throttle on, which "immediately resulted in substantial right yaw." The flight instructor corrected by adding left pedal, rolling the throttle off, and lowering the collective. These actions overcorrected for the right yaw and resulted in a left yaw. As the skids touched the ground, the flight instructor fully lowered the collective. The aft cross tube was bent, and the tail boom was wrinkled.
This incident is documented in NTSB report SEA08CA019. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N3189Z.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The student pilot's improper use of the flight controls while performing a hovering autorotation and the flight instructor's excessive remedial action which resulted in a hard landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The flight instructor reported that he and his student were practicing hovering autorotations. After the student successfully performed two hovering autorotations from a height of 2 inches, the flight instructor had the student bring the helicopter to a 1-foot hover. During initiation of the maneuver from this altitude, the student pilot applied full right pedal and began to roll the throttle on, which "immediately resulted in substantial right yaw." The flight instructor corrected by adding left pedal, rolling the throttle off, and lowering the collective. These actions overcorrected for the right yaw and resulted in a left yaw. As the skids touched the ground, the flight instructor fully lowered the collective. The aft cross tube was bent, and the tail boom was wrinkled.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA08CA019