Jan 11, 2002
Accident
Substantial Renton, WA
Injuries2 minor
Phase of Flight-
ConditionsVMC
OperationFAR 091
Probable Cause
The flight instructor's failure to ensure that adequate altitude/clearance above the ground was maintained during hovering flight, resulting in an inadvertent ground contact and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. A factor was the flight instructor's failure to ensure adequate control of the aircraft was maintained in the hover.
NTSB SEA02LA026