NTSB investigations: Robinson Helicopter R22

7 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Robinson Helicopter R22, where the first occurrence was “Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction”. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

19822026

NTSB investigations: Robinson Helicopter R22 per year, 1982–2026: 7 cases
1982	3
1983	1
1991	1
1992	1
2002	1

Where

Open the map

Latest cases

Query with 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 ('7640102') 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" = 130)) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

duckdb -csv -c "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 ('7640102')
      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\" = 130))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

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 ('7640102')
    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" = 130))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.

NTSB CHI03FA025Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportRobinson R22 · St. Jacob, ILFatigue fracture of the clutch assembly fan shaft and the resulting complete loss of power to the rotor drive system. A contributing factor was the loss of tail rotor authority due to the secondary failure of the control tube assembly.Nov 20, 2002 · N559DD · Substantial damage NTSB LAX92FA137Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson R22 · Maricopa, AZDestructive mast bumping for an undetermined reason(s).Mar 4, 1992 · N8413Q · Destroyed NTSB LAX91LA079Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson R-22 HP · Scottsdale, AZThe failure of the drive belts due to excessive wear of the clutch assembly upper sheave and the pilot's inaccurate flare during the termination of the autorotation. A factor in the accident was the inadequate design of the clutch assembly upper sheave.Jan 25, 1991 · N21439 · Substantial damage NTSB ATL84FA045Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportRobinson R22 · Gaithersburg, MDDuring his 2nd solo flt in the Robinson R22, the plt performed 2 low 'g' maneuvers. The 1st maneuver was essentially the same as when he practiced it during a check-out flt. However, the 2nd maneuver produced a rapid right roll to aprx 60 deg of bank. The plt…Nov 5, 1983 · N8414H · Substantial damage NTSB ATL83FA044Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportRobinson R-22 · Alabaster, ALThe pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, he noticed the rpm's began falling. He stated that he increased the throttle and lowered the collective, but the rpm's continued to decrease until the low RPM warning horn came on. An autorotative landing was…Nov 23, 1982 · N90218 · Substantial damage NTSB CHI83FA023Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson R-22 · Indian Hill, OHThe helicopter was observed circling an athletic field. During the third pass over the field it was observed to come to a near hover immediately followed by a tailrotor separation. The manufacturer issued a safety notice 12/4/81 & again on 10/4/82 stressing…Oct 21, 1982 · N9015R · Destroyed NTSB MIA82FA115Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportRobinson R-22 · Ft. Pierce, FLThe student pilot was performing autorotations with 180 degree turns terminating with power recoveries. At about 200 feet, after completion of the turn, the instructor heard a rattling noise followed by a medium frequency vibration. The instructor took the…May 1, 1982 · N90249 · Substantial damage