You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Saturday 21 December 2024 |
| Time: | 15:27 |
| Type: |  Robinson R22 Beta II |
| Owner/operator: | So Fly Flight Training Academy LLC |
| Registration: | N3104U |
| MSN: | 4061 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2006 |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-360-J2A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Springfield-Downtown Airport (3DW), Springfield, MO -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Standing |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Springfield-Downtown Airport, MO (3DW) |
| Springfield-Downtown Airport, MO (3DW) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The student pilot reported having completed one flight around the airport traffic pattern with a flight instructor in preparation for the student pilot’s first solo flight. They then landed near a fixed base operator at the airport, and the flight instructor exited the helicopter. The student pilot took off and practiced hovering, hovering taxi, and flew three airport traffic patterns before returning to the grass area at the airport for additional hover and hover taxi practice. The windshield began to fog during the additional practice, so the student pilot landed the helicopter to turn the blower fan switch on, but did not engage the collective friction or reduce the engine power. The student pilot said he had never used the blower fan switch, and it took a couple of seconds to locate, during which time the helicopter rolled right, and the main rotor blades contacted the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its left side.
The blower fan switch is located near the floor between the pilot’s legs. The helicopter was destroyed by its impact with the ground. The student pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunctions/failures of the helicopter.
Probable Cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter while turning on the blower fan switch after landing that resulted in a dynamic rollover sequence.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.ozarksfirst.com/news/helicopter-crash-reported-at-springfield-downtown-airport-saturday/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=t.co
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199464
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/N3104U/history/20241221/2107Z/3DW/3DW
Location
Images:
Photo: NTSB
Media:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 22-Dec-2024 08:06 | jared999 | Added |
| 22-Dec-2024 08:09 | ASN | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Total occupants, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Damage, Narrative, ] |
| 01-Jan-2025 17:50 | Captain Adam | Updated [Location, Nature, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report, ] |
| 26-Feb-2025 13:06 | Captain Adam | Updated [Time, Operator, Location, Phase, Source, Damage, Narrative, Photo, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation