Robinson Helicopter R22 accident near Bremerton, Washington, August 24, 2017
On August 24, 2017 at about 8:35 pm local time, a 2001 Robinson Helicopter R22, registered N7198J, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Bremerton, Washington (Bremerton National airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s improper bank control during takeoff, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2017 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- Bremerton, Washington · Bremerton National · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22, built 2001 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N7198J · registry record · serial 3232
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that, after the student pilot performed several practice approaches, they landed the helicopter, and the flight instructor exited. The instructor reported that, after the start, the student pilot attempted to take off; the left skid lifted off the ground, but the right skid did not. Subsequently, the helicopter rolled to the right and came to rest on its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Dynamic rollover during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 87.3 hours in all; 86 in this make and model; 26.7 in the last 90 days; 12.3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,188.1 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 27, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 5,092 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWT Bremerton WA at 8:25 pm
- Destination: PWT Bremerton WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 8:05 pm from KPWT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 25, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.