Robinson R44, 702 Helicopter Inc., N441JL: Accident occurred June 02, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada

702 HELICOPTER INC: http://registry.faa.gov/N441JL

NTSB Identification: GAA16CA279
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, June 02, 2016 in Las Vegas, NV
Probable Cause Approval Date: 08/03/2016
Aircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44, registration: N441JL
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The flight instructor reported that during a helicopter "discovery flight" he was providing instruction to an airplane rated private pilot. The flight instructor further reported that prior to takeoff he told the pilot receiving instruction, "I am going to do the takeoff, and you can feel the controls." As soon as the helicopter entered a hover after takeoff, the pilot receiving instruction "put in strong left input" with the cyclic and would not stop after repeated instruction to let go of the flight controls. Subsequently, the helicopter's left main skid touched down and the helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its left side.

The tail boom was substantially damaged.

The flight instructor did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. 

The flight instructor reported on the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/ Operator Aircraft Accident Report, within the owner/ operator safety recommendation section, he will not allow student pilots to touch the flight controls below 500 feet above the ground, until he is comfortable with the student.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot receiving instruction's incorrect action of interfering with the flight controls and failure to comply with the flight instructor's commands, which resulted in a loss of lateral bank control and a rollover.