Boeing Field/King County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Seattle, Washington 98108
Monday, February 15, 1999 10:00 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During an interview and subsequent written statement, the flight instructor reported that for the first time in the training program, the student was practicing hovering autorotations. The flight instructor stated that he demonstrated approximately three of the maneuvers. During the fourth maneuver, both he and the student were on the controls. The flight instructor stated that he slowly rolled off the throttle and the helicopter started to drift to the left and descend. The left landing skid caught the grass and the helicopter began to roll to the left. The flight instructor stated that before he could recover, the helicopter rolled over onto its side. No evidence was found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The dual student's improper touchdown while drifting during a practice autorotation. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor (CFI) inadequate remedial action.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/15/1999
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City SEATTLE
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98108
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BOEING FIELD/KING COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BFI
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 310
Airport Elevation 18
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 853 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BFI
Elevation of weather observation facility 18
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 11000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 81
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 15 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1010
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:24AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8362Q
NTSB Number SEA99LA033
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Robinson
Aircraft Model R-22
Aircraft Series Identifier R-22
Aircraft Serial Number 2774
Certified Max Gross Weight 1370
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 14 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 79
Airframe Hours 683
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RHODES HOLDING LTD.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 35 SOUTH BROADWAY
Aircraft Owner City TACOMA
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98402
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CLASSIC HELICOPTER CORP.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 6505 PERIMETER ROAD
Operator City SEATTLE
Operator State WA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 98108
Operator Code GJOA
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code BFI
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --