# NTSB ERA26LA304: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N8316N, Miramar, FL, August 15, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 15, 2026, 08:25 local (12:25 UTC)
- Place: Miramar, FL
- Coordinates: 25.97251, -80.43508
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9725&lon=-80.4351&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 1, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203610
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA304
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203610/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203610
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA304

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a hover, which resulted in the left skid contacting ground and a subsequent dynamic rollover.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor stated that student pilot was practicing off airport landings in the helicopter. After conducting a normal approach, they transitioned the helicopter into a hover about 2 to 3 ft above the ground. While at a hover, and with both the student pilot and the flight instructor touching the controls, the flight instructor turned his attention to clearing the tail rotor. While the flight instructor’s attention was focused outside the helicopter, the helicopter drifted to the left, descended, after which the left skid contacted the ground. The helicopter (dynamically) rolled on to its left side resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, main rotor system, tail rotor system, and empennage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8316N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8316N), registered now, S/N 2480 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2480
- Year built: 1994
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: N8316n LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 7, 2026, 70 hours before
- Departed: HWO, Pembroke Pines, FL
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 33; injuries: none; flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 4, 2025; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 520 total, 448 in this make and model, 460 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private, student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; last flight review July 31, 1992; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 41.4 total, 41.4 in this make and model, 10.4 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 7.5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 79 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: OPF, 9 nm away
- METAR: METAR KOPF 151153Z 13008KT 10SM CLR 29/26 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP202 60000 T02940256 10300 20278 53004

## 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 20260815009939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260815009939A), Aug 15, 2026: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Pembroke Pines, FL, Substantial damage. Robinson R-22 rotorcraft [privacy data omitted] [privacy data omitted] with CFI and student/private pilot, in a hover when the accident occurred with…

## Other investigations on N8316N (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 ANC02LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA021), Mar 6, 2002: Robinson R-22 (N8316N), Whittier, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's Failure to maintain a proper descent rate during landing. Factors associated with the accident are variable wind conditions, and the pilot's improper approach to the landing site.

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203610. 3.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20843378&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20842600&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Student pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20843398&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Student%20Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20843722&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20-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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