Primary finding
Probable cause
Dynamic rollover due to the flight instructor's improper control inputs and the flight instructor's unsuccessful remedial actions. A contributing factor is the passenger's inadvertent movement of the cyclic control.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The helicopter impacted the terrain while hovering and rolled over. The certified flight instructor reported that he was giving an introductory hovering demonstration lesson. He reported, "Helicopter caught a gust. Passenger accidentally pushed the cyclic to left. Instructor pilot was surprised and tried to grab the cyclic back. It was to late, left skid touched the ground and the helicopter had a dynamic rollover."
Source record
Factual narrative
On September 10, 2002, at 1030 central daylight time, a Robinson R-22, N8372B, operated by Pujji Inc., sustained substantial damaged at the Creve Coeur Airport (1H0), Maryland Heights, Missouri, when it impacted the terrain while hovering and rolled over. The certified flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight departed 1H0 at 0930 on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The certified flight instructor reported that he was giving an introductory hovering demonstration lesson. He reported, "Helicopter caught a gust. Passenger accidentally pushed the cyclic to left. Instructor pilot was surprised and tried to grab the cyclic back. It was to late, left skid touched the ground and the helicopter had a dynamic rollover."