- Date
- August 4, 1990, 15:10 local (22:10 UTC)
- Place
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N8044ZRobinson R22B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 23, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900804030339A
- Case key
- 26882
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper aircraft handling at a low altitude which resulted in a rate of descent that could not be arrested prior to colliding with the ground.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he was practicing approaches to a hover at a nearby field. The helicopter was on a downwind leg about 100 feet AGL when the pilot reportedly initiated a sharp turn. He said the helicopter entered a descent which could not be arrested prior to the helicopter colliding with the ground.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8044Z
- Reported as
- Robinson R22B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1159
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Arizona Wing And Rotor, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Unknown
- Departed
- SDL
- Destination
- SDL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 2,570 total · 2,530 in this make and model · 2,490 as pilot in command · 410 in the last 90 days · 135 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 109 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.