Loss of control in flight: Robinson R22 Beta, N4082J, accident occurred on May 3, 2024, at Olympia Regional Airport (OLM/KOLM), Olympia, Washington

• Location: Olympia, Washington 
• Accident Number: WPR24LA139 
• Date & Time: May 3, 2024, 16:00 Local 
• Registration: N4082J 
• Aircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA 
• Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
• Defining Event: Loss of control in flight 
• Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 None 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional 

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On May 3, 2024, about 1600 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter R22, N4082J, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Olympia, Washington. The flight instructor received minor injuries, and the student pilot was uninjured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.

The flight instructor taxied the helicopter from one side of the airport to the other during an instructional flight with a student while the helicopter’s loading was near (about 12 lbs over) its maximum gross weight. As the helicopter approached the intended hover practice area, the instructor began a descending, left pedal turn to align the helicopter into the wind. During the descending turn and while about 10 ft above ground level (agl), the instructor began to add collective to arrest the helicopter’s descent; however, the helicopter continued to descend and impacted the ground with the toe of its right skid, leading to a dynamic rollover.

No evidence of pre-accident mechanical malfunction or failure was revealed during a postaccident examination of the helicopter. Thus, given the helicopter’s high gross weight and left turn during the descent (both of which require more antitorque thrust and reduce the amount of engine power available to produce lift), it is likely that the instructor’s action to raise the collective was delayed, which resulted in an inadequate amount of time and altitude for the increased collective to be able to arrest the helicopter’s descent before impact with the ground.

- Probable Cause: The flight instructor’s delayed action to arrest the descending, left pedal turn while maneuvering for a low-altitude hover with the helicopter near the maximum gross weight limitation, which resulted in an impact with the ground and a dynamic rollover.