Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA N8316N accident near Miramar, Florida

Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a hover, which resulted in the left skid contacting ground and a subsequent dynamic rollover.

NTSB analysis

The flight instructor stated that student pilot was practicing off airport landings in the helicopter. After conducting a normal approach, they transitioned the helicopter into a hover about 2 to 3 ft above the ground. While at a hover, and with both the student pilot and the flight instructor touching the controls, the flight instructor turned his attention to clearing the tail rotor. While the flight instructor’s attention was focused outside the helicopter, the helicopter drifted to the left, descended, after which the left skid contacted the ground. The helicopter (dynamically) rolled on to its left side resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, main rotor system, tail rotor system, and empennage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA26LA304 for the full record.