Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, May 30, 2024
On May 30, 2024 at about 5:54 pm local time, a 2005 Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, registered N333PJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s failure to implement the correct action for low rotor RPM recovery.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2024 · about 5:54 pm local time
- Place
- Kailua-Kona, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, built 2005 · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N333PJ · registry record · serial 3804
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Ground collision during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Compliance w/ procedure
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of procedures › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Prop/rotor parameters › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 828 hours in all; 497 in this make and model; 232 in the last 90 days; 86 in the last 30 days; 758 as pilot in command; 405 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 6, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 134 hours in all; 122 in this make and model; 80 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 18, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,196.5 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 14, 2024; 46.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming J2A (piston); 5,592 hours total
- Operator: Hawaii Pacific Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: PHKO Kailua Kona HI at 5:15 pm
- Destination: PHKO Kailua Kona HI
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
Weather report (METAR): METAR PHKO 300753Z 14003KT 10SM FEW026 BKN048 26/21 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP185 T02610211=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of top of accident helicopter and rotors
Photograph 2 – View of accident helicopter tail and bottom section
Photograph 3 – View of accident helicopter tail boom and rotor and fuselage
Photograph 4 – View of front of accident helicopterThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 8, 2025. 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 (CFI) | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Operator) | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | R22 Performance Email | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N333PJ the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.