Robinson R-44 N448BP

Summary

On 26 February 2007 at about 14:20 local time, a Robinson R-44 registered N448BP, operated by Blue Ridge Helicopters Inc., was involved in an accident near Covington, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 February 2007 at 14:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Covington, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Covington Municipal Airport (9A1)

Coordinates

33.6261, -83.8431

Aircraft

Robinson R-44

Registration

N448BP

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Blue Ridge Helicopters Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Covington → Covington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL07CA046

1 person was seriously injured.

The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during liftoff, which resulted in an in-flight collision with the ground.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot lost control of the helicopter after takeoff during his first solo flight and struck the ground in uncontrolled flight. According to the student pilot, "I lifted off and obtained a stable hover. As I started forward in the helicopter, it started to gyrate. I remember coming down in the grassy area at the entrance to the airport. The main rotor blades struck the ground. The next thing I remember is the Air Rescue people working to get me out of the helicopter." The Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), stated that this was the student pilot's first solo flight. The student pilot and the CFI had been doing dual flight instruction for about 45 minutes prior to the accident. Following the dual instruction the CFI ask the student pilot if he "felt good about a solo, and he stated yes". The student pilot lifted off with a "slight bobble" to about a five foot hover and seemed to recover from the "bobble". The CFI was in communication with the student by 2-way radio. The student lifted the helicopter upward and the helicopter started to gyrate erratically, gradually moving northbound. The student lost control and the helicopter struck the ground approximately 150 yards from the liftoff spot. Examination of the helicopter by an FAA inspector found that the helicopter struck the ground in a nose down attitude, substantially damaging the main rotors and cockpit. There were no mechanical problems reported by the student pilot or discovered during the post-accident examination of the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.