Robinson R22 BETA N221HG

Summary

On 19 November 2021 at about 16:30 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N221HG, operated by Higher Ground Helicopters of Cincinnati LLC, was involved in an accident near Miamisburg, Ohio, United States. One person was 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

19 November 2021 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Miamisburg, Ohio, United States

Nearest airport

Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport (MGY)

Coordinates

39.5890, -84.2249

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N221HG

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1992

Engines

1

Operator

Higher Ground Helicopters of Cincinnati LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Miamisburg → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22LA041

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a low-altitude hover shortly after liftoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The solo student pilot reported that, just after liftoff and in a low-altitude hover, the helicopter “swung” to the left. The student pilot reported that he “overcorrected” with right pedal and aft cyclic inputs. The helicopter began to spin, and the student pilot pulled up to keep from hitting the ground. The student pilot reported remembering hitting the ground and rolling the throttle off. A security video showed that shortly after the helicopter lifted off into a low altitude hover it yawed left about 90° and descended before it moved aft and momentarily out of the camera’s view. When it reemerged, the helicopter was in a right spin and impacted the ramp in an upright attitude. The aft tail boom and tail rotor sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. There was another small helicopter operating near the accident helicopter at the time of the accident, however it is unlikely that the rotor wash from the other helicopter would have precluded the student pilot’s ability to maintain control his helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.