Narrative:

Prior to takeoff, student conducted preflight in accordance with checklist for helicopter, but forgot to remove ground handling wheels. Instructor returned to aircraft and helicopter took off discovered wheel on student side still attached, removed wheel and returned to airport. No damage or further incident. But the possibility of losing the ground handling wheel was present. A vivid reminder to me not to accept the student saying 'preflight completed' without a walkaround. As they say 'never again.' perhaps preflight conversation with student presented a distraction for student, but PIC must check aircraft condition prior to flight.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: R22 INSTRUCTOR PLT DID NOT INSURE THE STUDENT PLT REMOVED THE GND HANDLING WHEELS BEFORE FLT.

Narrative: PRIOR TO TKOF, STUDENT CONDUCTED PREFLIGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHKLIST FOR HELI, BUT FORGOT TO REMOVE GND HANDLING WHEELS. INSTRUCTOR RETURNED TO ACFT AND HELI TOOK OFF DISCOVERED WHEEL ON STUDENT SIDE STILL ATTACHED, REMOVED WHEEL AND RETURNED TO ARPT. NO DAMAGE OR FURTHER INCIDENT. BUT THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING THE GND HANDLING WHEEL WAS PRESENT. A VIVID REMINDER TO ME NOT TO ACCEPT THE STUDENT SAYING 'PREFLT COMPLETED' WITHOUT A WALKAROUND. AS THEY SAY 'NEVER AGAIN.' PERHAPS PREFLT CONVERSATION WITH STUDENT PRESENTED A DISTR FOR STUDENT, BUT PIC MUST CHK ACFT CONDITION PRIOR TO FLT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.