NTSB Factual Report

On March 23, 2006, about 0845 Hawaiian standard time, a skid-equipped Robinson R-22B helicopter, N203DH, sustained substantial damage when it rolled over while hovering at the Kona International Airport, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The helicopter was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area instructional flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The helicopter was operated by Hawaii Pacific Aviation Inc., doing business as Mauna Loa Helicopters, Kailua. The certificated flight instructor and the student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on March 23, the owner of the company reported that the student pilot was practicing hovering with the flight instructor aboard. The instructor told the owner that the helicopter began to settle while drifting to the left. The helicopter's left skid contacted the ground, which resulted in a dynamic roll over. The helicopter rolled onto its left side, and received structural damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and main rotor blades.

The student pilot had received about 3 hours of initial helicopter instruction at the time of the accident.

In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, Page 10 contains an optional portion titled, Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation (How could this accident have been prevented?). The flight instructor wrote, "Maintain higher hover altitude for initial hover practice," and "Intervene earlier to deviations."

NTSB Probable Cause

The flight instructor's delayed remedial action while conducting hover practice with a student pilot, which resulted in the helicopter contacting the ground and rolling over. A factor contributing to the accident was an inadvertent dynamic roll over.