Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

June 30, 2017 · Robinson Helicopter R22 · N8361N

Kelso, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 30, 2017
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Kelso, WA
Aircraft
Robinson Helicopter R22 (1994)
Tail Number
N8361N
Operator
Hillsboro Aero Academy
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
GAA17CA376

The flight instructor reported that he was providing instruction to a student pilot in the helicopter during a cross-country flight. During the flight, the instructor asked the student to perform a "land as soon as possible" emergency procedure. The student pilot approached the hillside landing site from the south. The wind was out of the west about 8 to 10 knots, which resulted in a left crosswind for the landing. The student pilot reported that, during the approach, the instructor told him he "needed more left pedal." The helicopter descended and decelerated below effective translational lift (ETL). According to the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) 8083-21A, the Helicopter Flying Handbook, pg. 2-20, para. 2, ETL occurs between 16 and 24 knots. The student pilot reported that, "We descended below ETL, maybe 10 feet off the ground and still descending. By this point we were what I perceived to be straight, and the instructor took the controls. From what I could tell, he used forward cyclic and left pedal immediately. It was too late." The flight instructor reported that, "As we came closer to our landing spot and began to slow down, I felt that the nose of the helicopter was not pointed far enough into the wind (we were out of trim). I took the flight controls right as we slowed below ETL. The helicopter started to develop a hard right yaw and I immediately gave full forward cyclic." The helicopter developed an uncontrollable rapid right yaw and spun about two revolutions. The helicopter touched down on the skids and rolled onto its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor drive shaft and the main and tail rotor blades. The student pilot and flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. According to the FAA's Helicopter Flying Handbook (FAA-8083-21A), the Helicopter Instructor's Flying Handbook (FAA-8083-4), and Advisory Circular (AC) 90-95, "Unanticipated Rapid Right Yaw in Helicopters," the loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE) is a "critical, low-speed aerodynamic flight characteristic which can result in an uncommanded rapid yaw rate which does not subside of its own accord and, if not corrected, can result in the loss of aircraft control." AC 90-95 defined flight characteristics and wind azimuths associated with LTE and stated that the tail rotor vortex ring state occurs during left crosswinds when the relative wind azimuth is from 210° to 330°" and that "winds within this region will result in the development of the vortex ring state of the tail rotor." AC 90-95 also stated that, for all wind azimuths, the loss of ETL is associated with LTE as it "results in increased power demands and additional anti-torque requirements."

NTSB Probable Cause

The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control due to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

Full Narrative

The helicopter flight instructor reported that he was providing instruction to a student pilot during a cross country flight. During the flight, the instructor asked the student to perform a land as soon as possible emergency procedure. The student pilot approached the hillside, landing site from the south. The wind was out of the west and the helicopter descended and decelerated below effective translational lift (ETL). According to the FAA 8083-21A, The Helicopter Flying Handbook, pg. 2-20, para. 2, ETL occurs between 16 and 24 knots. The student pilot reported that, "We descended below ETL, maybe 10 feet off the ground and still descending. By this point we were what I perceived to be straight, and the instructor took the controls. From what I could tell, he used forward cyclic and left pedal immediately. It was too late." The instructor reported that, "I took the flight controls right as we slowed below ETL. The helicopter started to develop a hard right yaw and I immediately gave full forward cyclic." The helicopter developed an uncontrollable rapid right yaw and spun about two revolutions. The helicopter touched down on the skids and rolled on to its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor drive shaft, the main and tail rotor blades. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Helicopter Flying Handbook (FAA-8083-21A) and The Helicopter Instructors Flying Handbook (FAA-8083-4) and Advisory Circular (AC) 90-95 Unanticipated rapid right yaw: Loss of Tail Rotor Effectiveness (LTE) is a critical; low-speed aerodynamic flight characteristic which can result in an uncommanded rapid yaw rate which does not subside of its own accord and, if not corrected, can result in the loss of aircraft control. AC 90-95 Section 7.d.3. (page 7) defines flight characteristics and wind azimuths associated with LTE. It states that tail rotor vortex ring state occurs when the wind is out of (210° to 330°). 1. Winds within this region will result in the development of the vortex ring state of the tail rotor.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:56 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRobinson Helicopter R22
Tail NumberN8361N
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorHillsboro Aero Academy
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 · Reciprocating · 145
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 27 · Second Class · Minor
Crew 2Age 27 · Second Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 800 ft
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 55
Altimeter30.07 inHg
Observation Time09:34
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data