# NTSB ANC24LA039: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N333PJ, Kailua-Kona, HI, May 30, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 30, 2024, 07:54 local (17:54 UTC)
- Place: Kailua-Kona, HI
- Coordinates: 19.68187, -155.82245 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=19.6819&lon=-155.8225&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194350
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC24LA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194350/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194350
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA039

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to implement the correct action for low rotor RPM recovery.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Compliance w/ procedure (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md)
- [Knowledge: knowledge of procedures](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032010/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were practicing high density altitude training. The pilot receiving instruction made several landings to a pinnacle approved for practice landings by the flight school which was located at about 5,500’ ft msl. The flight instructor decided to try a new landing site, which was not approved by the flight school, located at 6,500’ ft msl. On their second approach to the new landing area the rotor RPM began to decay, the flight instructor took the controls, he pushed forward on the cyclic to attempt to go around and added power, increasing collective. The instructor’s control inputs resulted in the main rotor rpm’s continued decrease. The helicopter impacted the ground resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and tail boom. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N333PJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N333PJ), registered now, S/N 3804, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3804
- Year built: 2005
- Airframe hours: 14196.5
- Engines: Lycoming J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Hawaii Pacific Aviation, doing business as Mauna Loa Helicopters
- Registered owner: Hawaii Pacific Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 14, 2024, 46.7 hours before
- Departed: PHKO, Kailua Kona, HI
- Destination: PHKO, Kailua Kona, HI
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 6, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 828 total, 497 in this make and model, 758 as pilot in command, 232 in the last 90 days, 86 in the last 30 days
- Student pilot; age 26; injuries: none; private; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 18, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 134 total, 122 in this make and model, 80 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: PHKO
- METAR: METAR PHKO 300753Z 14003KT 10SM FEW026 BKN048 26/21 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP185 T02610211=

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20240530005099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240530005099A), May 30, 2024: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Kona, HI, Substantial damage. 141 Flight piloted by a CFI (PIC) was providing high altitude mountain training instruction to commercial/cfi student . The student pilot attempted to execute…

## Other investigations on N333PJ (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR13CA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA107), Jan 30, 2013: Robinson R22 (N333PJ), Kona, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm during a practice autorotation and the flight instructor's delayed action, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 8, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194350. 8.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (CFI) (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 675 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17252156&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA039%206120%20CFI%20copy_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (operator) (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17252312&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Operator_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 608 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17252229&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CFI%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- R22 performance email (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18452621&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2024-5-30%20N333PJ%20performance%20email%20by%20Polasek_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17250919&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA039%20Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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