St. Petersburg-Clearwater Intl Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clearwater, Florida 33762
Tuesady, September 27, 2011 16:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that she had relocated the helicopter from a dolly to the taxiway in order for the student to conduct the takeoff from the taxiway. The student pilot took control of the helicopter and lifted the collective, and the helicopter began to roll to the right. The CFI stated that she lowered the collective and applied left cyclic, but the helicopter continued to roll to the right. The helicopter came to rest on its right side and sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The CFI reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The certified flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent rollover.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/27/2011
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1615
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Clearwater
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33762
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 275422N
Event Location Longitude 0824108W
Event Location Airport St. Petersburg-Clearwater Intl
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PIE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 11
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID PIE
Elevation of weather observation facility 11
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.91
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 29455
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 29 2011 5:45PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N982DH
NTSB Number ERA11CA505
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 HELICOPTER
Aircraft Model R44
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 0982
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 24 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1876
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NEED 2 FLY AVIATION LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City PALM HARBOR
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34685-3659
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Razor Blades Helicopters
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Clearwater
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 33762
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 PIE
Departure City Clearwater
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1615
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PIE
Destination City Clearwater
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 29 2011 5:45PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --