Robinson R-22 N20879
16 August 1999 · Mansfield, Massachusetts, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 16 August 1999 at about 20:37 local time, a Robinson R-22 registered N20879, operated by Northern Lights Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Mansfield, Massachusetts, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:37
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Mansfield, Massachusetts, United States
- Nearest airport
- Mansfield Municipal (1B9)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22
- Registration
- N20879
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Northern Lights Helicopters
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC99LA204
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
Was the student pilot's failure to maintain lateral control of the helicopter while bringing it to a hover. A factor in the accident was the student pilot's lack of total experience in helicopters.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
With his instructor outside the helicopter watching, the student pilot attempted to bring the helicopter to a hover. With the left skid in the air and the entire right skid on the ground, the helicopter rolled over. No pre-impact failures or malfunctions were found. Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 90-87 (Helicopter Dynamic Rollover) states the following; 'During normal or slope takeoffs and landings with...one skid/wheel on the ground, the bank angle or side drift can place the helicopter in a situation where it is pivoting (rolling) about a skid/wheel which is still in contact with the ground....if a roll rate is permitted to develop, a critical bank angle...may be reached where roll cannot be corrected, even with full lateral cyclic.' The student pilot had logged a total of 27 hours of flight experience with all 27 hours in helicopters.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R-22 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Oct 1999 | Robinson R-22-MARINER | West Boca Raton, Florida, United States | Volar Helicopters, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 Sep 1999 | Robinson R-22 | Azusa, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Apr 1999 | Robinson R-22 | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States | Chena River Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 15 Apr 1999 | Robinson R-22 | Port Jefferson, New York, United States | Helicopter Flight Training Inc | No injuries | - |
| 15 Feb 1999 | Robinson R-22 | Seattle, Washington, United States | Classic Helicopter Corp. | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Jun 1999 | Robinson R-22 | Hurricane, West Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Oct 1999 | Piper PA-34-200 | Hopedale, Massachusetts, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Oct 1999 | Piper PA-12 | Orange, Massachusetts, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Dec 1999 | Cessna 172P | Leominster, Massachusetts, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Sep 1999 | Cessna 337C | North Adams, Massachusetts, United States | George F. Shelton | Fatal | 2 |
| 18 Sep 1999 | Cessna 182 | Pepperell, Massachusetts, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Jan 1999 | Beechcraft 1900D | Hyannis, Massachusetts, United States | - | No injuries | - |