N512GS

On February 19, 2019, a Robinson R22 (N512GS) was involved in an incident near Clearwater, FL. 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 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.

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 the helicopter down and while turning and hover taxiing over the grass area between the taxiway and the runway, the toe of the right skid 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 pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA19CA141. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N512GS.