Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near Gila Bend, Arizona, April 15, 2022
On April 15, 2022 at about 3:37 pm local time, a 2003 Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, registered N7516G, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Gila Bend, Arizona (Gila Bend Municipal Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s failure to maintain control during the landing approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 2022 · about 3:37 pm local time
- Place
- Gila Bend, Arizona · Gila Bend Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, built 2003 · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N7516G · no longer on the register · serial 3513
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student pilot was conducting a cross-country flight when it impacted the terrain 212 ft before the approach end of the runway at the destination airport. The helicopter then slid about 30 ft and came to rest on its right side. A witness located about 1/2 mile west of the accident site reported seeing the helicopter go down and stated that the rotor blades were rotating before the impact. Postaccident airframe and engine examinations revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Given the upright orientation of the wreckage at impact, the significant damage to the underside of the fuselage, engine and skids, damage to the main rotor blades, coupled with the witness statement, were all consistent with a loss of control and a subsequent uncontrolled descent that resulted in the collision with terrain.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 97 hours in all; 97 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,010 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 28, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CHD Chandler AZ at 2:57 pm
- Runway 22, 5,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observation at 8:47 am from KGYR, 31 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KGYR 151547Z 03003KT 10SM SKC 19/M05 A2991
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on October 19, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Witness Statement | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Wreckage Examination | PDF, 11 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Engine Examination | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Component Examination Factual Report | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Autopsy Mor | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 9 | Toxicology Report | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 10 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.