Robinson R-22B N40CP

Summary

On 3 December 2005 at about 20:00 local time, a Robinson R-22B registered N40CP, operated by C-R Helicopters Inc., was involved in an accident near Rochester, New Hampshire, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 December 2005 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Rochester, New Hampshire, United States

Coordinates

43.2833, -70.9292

Aircraft

Robinson R-22B

Registration

N40CP

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

C-R Helicopters Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rochester → Rochester

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC06CA041

Nobody was injured.

The flight instructor's failure to maintain adequate clearance while providing hovering instruction, which resulted in tail rotor ground contact. A factor in this accident was the gusty wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were practicing hovering over a grass area. The CFI reported that the student pilot was flying the helicopter, while he "shadowed" the controls and performed corrective inputs. While hovering, the helicopter's tail rotor contacted the ground and the helicopter rolled over onto it's right side. Examination of the helicopter did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions. Winds reported at the airport, about the time of the accident were variable from 230 to 300 degrees, with the predominate wind from 280 degrees at 7 knots, gusting to 20 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.