# NTSB investigations: Robinson Helicopter R22 ALPHA: Loss of control - in flight NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports. ## Latest cases - [NTSB DEN06CA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06CA064.md): Robinson R-22 · Santa Fe, NM · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 15, 2006 · N85560 · Substantial damage > the pilot's improper preflight planning and his failure to maintain control of the helicopter during takeoff. Factors contributing to the accident were the helicopter exceeding its maximum gross weight for takeoff and the high density altitude. - [NTSB CHI04FA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04FA197.md): Robinson R22 Alpha · Mount Clemens, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 28, 2004 · N103MH · Destroyed > A loss of control in flight for undetermined reasons. - [NTSB LAX99LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA186.md): Robinson R22A · San Luis Obispo, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 19, 1999 · N8558N · Substantial damage > The student's inadvertent and uncoordinated application of forward cyclic during an autorotation flare, which resulted in a loss of main rotor rpm; and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision. - [NTSB LAX98FA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA098.md): Robinson R22 · Littlerock, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 26, 1998 · N8457J · Destroyed > The pilot's improper use of the rotorcraft cyclic control in response to encountering terrain induced turbulence. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to obtain a preflight weather briefing which contained precautionary notices for turbulence. - [NTSB BFO94LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA035.md): Robinson R-22A · Gaithersburg, MD · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 25, 1994 · N8559A · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM which led to an in flight loss of control resulting in a collision with the runway and the helicopter rolling over on its side. A factor in this accident was the pilot's lack of total experience flying helicopters. - [NTSB NYC93LA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA126.md): Robinson R22 · Sanford, ME · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 24, 1993 · N8557Y · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the helicopter while hovering, resulting in the main rotor blades impacting the ground. - [NTSB LAX90LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA074.md): Robinson R22 · Ramona, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 21, 1990 · N2258R · Substantial damage > The pilot encountered a tailwind while on final approach, but delayed the go-around. During the go-around the pilot failed to maintain airspeed and entered a descent (settling with power). - [NTSB BFO89LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89LA071.md): Robinson R22 · Manassas, VA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 17, 1989 · N8557H · Substantial damage > Improper use of the cyclic control by the student pilot and his failure to relinquish control of the helicopter to the instructor (CFI). A contributing factor was the student's lack of experience. - [NTSB LAX89LA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA251.md): Robinson R22 · Scottsdale, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 10, 1989 · N8477B · Substantial damage > Improperly use of the flight controls by the pilot and his failure to maintain control of the helicopter. - [NTSB BFO88LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO88LA076.md): Robinson R22A · Gaithersburg, MD · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 27, 1988 · N8559A · Substantial damage > The flt was initiated with the student plt bringing the helicopter up to a hover with some forward speed. The student rapidly and forcefully applied aft cyclic. The CFI was unable to compensate in time, even though he was on the controls with the student. The… - [NTSB LAX88FA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88FA032.md): Robinson R22A · Moraga, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 3, 1987 · N8475A · Destroyed > A divergence of the main rotor from its normal plane of rotation for an undetermined reason, which resulted in rotor contact with the cockpit area. - [NTSB NYC87LA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87LA122.md): Robinson R22 · Pottstown, PA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 12, 1987 · N85570 · Substantial damage > During landing approach to runway 28, ground fog was encountered and the pilot overshot his intended touchdown point. The pilot stated that he slowed the airspeed to zero mph and the acft started to shake and fall even though the motor and rotor were at 100%… - [NTSB LAX87FA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA147.md): Robinson R-22-A · Scottsdale, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 16, 1987 · N2256M · Destroyed > A loss of control in flight for undetermined reasons. - [NTSB ATL85FA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85FA067.md): Robinson R-22 Alpha · Huntsville, AL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 25, 1984 · N8475K · Destroyed > A popping sound then a loud noise and a puff of smoke preceded the helicopter's fall to the ground, stated a 12 year old boy who said he saw the accident. Examination of the helicopter failed to disclose any trace of fire. However one main rotor blade… ## The whole list in SQL Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS: ```sql SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7640104') AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 250)) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?model=7640104&occurrence=250 --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.