Probable cause
The flight instructor's failure to take remedial action in a timely manner.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot stated they had been practicing hovering for about 30 minutes, and were about two feet above the ground. He recalled that he was "controlling the cyclic and maybe the collective, but not the pedals." The flight instructor thought they were three to five feet above the ground. The helicopter experienced a pendular motion and began traveling backwards and to the right. The right skid made contact with the ground, which resulted in the tail impacting the ground and the helicopter rolling onto its side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN14CA017 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 2, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Chicago, Illinois
- Nearest airport
- Lansing Muni (IGQ)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Robinson R22 - BETA
- N-number
- N554SA
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 1990
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.