Robinson R22 N2302A

Summary

On 21 November 2006 at about 20:10 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N2302A, operated by Elite Flying & Management Services Inc., was involved in an accident near Lakeland, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

21 November 2006 at 20:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Lakeland, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Lakeland (KLAL)

Coordinates

27.9889, -82.0186

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N2302A

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Elite Flying & Management Services Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lakeland → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA07CA021

2 people had minor injuries.

The flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during takeoff resulting in a roll over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that he was giving demo discovery flights. He landed, the first passenger got out, and the second passenger got into the helicopter and buckled up. As the CFI started to takeoff, the helicopter came off the ground about 2 inches and rolled to the left. As it began to roll, he put the collective down and rolled the throttle off. The cyclic consistently went to the left even though he was trying to pull it back to the right and the helicopter would not move to the right. The helicopter continued the left roll until contacting the ground, damaging the skids, rotor blades, and tail boom. The responding FAA inspector stated that the certified flight instructor said the helicopter was used in a Title 14 CFR part 61 flight school, which also gives rides to those who wanted the experience of flying in a helicopter. During the accident flight, he picked the aircraft up to a hover and felt the aircraft moving to the left. He then asked the passenger if she was pushing the cyclic left and her response was no. The passenger stated to the FAA inspector, when interviewed, that her left leg was not near enough to the center post of the cyclic to touch it and the pilot (flight instructor) didn't say anything during the takeoff. She added that the pilot had both hands on the stick on his left (collective) and he grabbed the control (cyclic) as the helicopter lifted off the ground. Cyclic, collective and tail rotor control continuity was established by the FAA inspector during a post accident examination of the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.