Robinson R22 BETA N7188S

Summary

On 6 March 2004 at about 01:38 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N7188S, operated by Los Angeles Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Long Beach, California, United States. 2 people were 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.

Date

6 March 2004 at 01:38

Classification

Accident

Location

Long Beach, California, United States

Nearest airport

Long Beach /Daugherty Field/ (LGB)

Coordinates

33.8203, -118.1553

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N7188S

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Los Angeles Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Long Beach → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX04CA146

1 person had minor injuries.

the student pilot's improper use of the cyclic control and the certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision, which resulted in a rollover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter rolled over while the certified flight instructor (CFI) and student were practicing autorotations from a hover. On the previous attempt, the student pilot applied improper left cyclic input. The CFI identified the improper action to the student, and told him to try it again. The student landed the helicopter and maintained the heading; the CFI did not perceive any lateral movement. Then the CFI realized that the helicopter was starting to roll to the left. The CFI applied full right cyclic, but the helicopter continued to roll slowly until the main rotor blades contacted the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its left side. The CFI stated that the airplane had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.