Robinson R22 accident near Madill, Oklahoma, March 20, 2019
On March 20, 2019 at about 9:10 pm local time, a 2005 Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N7782H, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Madill, Oklahoma. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the V-belts due to improper maintenance, which resulted in the loss of power to the helicopter's rotor system and subsequent forced landing on rough terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 2019 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Madill, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA II, built 2005 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N7782H · no longer on the register · serial 3962
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that about 10 minutes after takeoff, the helicopter was in level flight about 700 to 800 ft above ground level when the clutch actuator warning/caution light illuminated. He entered an autorotation intending to do a power recovery close to the ground. He indicated that, within a "short second or two" after the clutch light illuminated, he heard a "bang" and felt the helicopter shudder. He continued the autorotation and landed on rough terrain. The helicopter rolled onto its left side and sustained substantial damage to the tail boom, main rotor, and fuselage. The examination of the helicopter revealed that the two double V-belts had separated from the upper sheave and that there was a field repair on the wire connections at the clutch actuator fuse holder. The terminals were wrapped in tape and a wire tie. When the wire tie and tape were removed, the fuse holder terminal fell and fractured from the holder, and the wires separated from the solder on the terminal. The extension limiter was found at 1.65 inches, which is the maximum extension limit; the normal range was 1.1 to 1.3 inches. The improper repair of the clutch actuator fuse holder likely caused the loose condition of the V-belts, which resulted in V-belt failure and the loss of power to the helicopter's rotor system, subsequent autorotation, and forced landing.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during enroute defining event
- Autorotation Miscellaneous/other
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Main rotor drive › Engine/transmission coupling › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Main rotor drive › Engine/transmission coupling › Damaged/degraded
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Repair › Maintenance personnel
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,300 hours in all; 320 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 4,020 as pilot in command; 583 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,459.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 5, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 1,369 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 2,060 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1F4 Madill OK at 9:00 pm
- Destination: ADM Ardmore OK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from ADM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on September 19, 2019. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Annual Maintenance Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Robinson R22 POH Excerpts | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Log | PDF, 18 pages | View Download |
| 5 | NTSB Party Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.