Robinson R22 BETA N211SH

Summary

On 13 July 2009 at about 17:53 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N211SH, operated by East Coast Aero Club, was involved in an accident near Bedford, Massachusetts, 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

13 July 2009 at 17:53

Classification

Accident

Location

Bedford, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Laurence G. Hanscom Field Airp (BED)

Coordinates

42.4697, -71.2889

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N211SH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

East Coast Aero Club

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bedford → Bedford

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09CA401

1 person had minor injuries.

The flight instructor's inadequate remedial action while conducting hover practice with a student pilot, which resulted in the helicopter rolling over when it contacted the ground.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the certificated flight instructor, he was performing hover practice with the student pilot in a grassy area beside a taxiway. During the practice, the helicopter climbed to approximately 20 feet above ground level, and then the instructor advised the student to position the helicopter at a lower altitude. The instructor stated that the helicopter began “a high rate of descent which [he] was unable to arrest prior to ground contact.” He also said that the helicopter developed a “dynamic rolling moment that full down collective was unable to stop.” The helicopter rolled and came to rest on its left side, substantially damaging the tail boom, skids, and main rotor. The winds reported at the airport about the time of the accident were from 250 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 17 knots. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies with the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.