Robinson R22 accident near Beeville, Texas, December 19, 2019
On December 19, 2019 at about 9:10 pm local time, a 2004 Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N695AP, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Beeville, Texas (Beeville Muni airport). It was an instructional 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 solo student pilot's improper cyclic input during takeoff, which resulted in dynamic rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 19, 2019 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Beeville, Texas · Beeville Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA, built 2004 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N695AP · registry record · serial 3308
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot and flight instructor completed an instructional flight, after which the instructor exited the helicopter to watch the student conduct a solo flight. The instructor explained to the student that the helicopter was going to "pick up" differently without his weight onboard, like the student's initial solo flight the day before, and the student "concurred and understood." The instructor watched the helicopter take off from the dry asphalt; however, the helicopter was "sliding back and right" as it took off. The right rear skid tube contacted the ground, the student did not correct for the ground contact, and the helicopter entered a dynamic rollover sequence. The main rotor blades impacted the ground, and the helicopter came to rest on its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, fuselage, tailboom, and empennage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the student applied improper cyclic input during the takeoff, which resulted in the right rear skid tube contacting the ground and a subsequent dynamic rollover.
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 takeoff defining event
- Dynamic rollover during takeoff
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Rotorcraft flight control › Main rotor control › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Training › Training with equipment › Student/instructed pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 30 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 18, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,203 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 18, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 210 hours total
- Operator: Prestige Air Worldwide, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: BEA Beeville TX at 8:30 pm
- Destination: BEA Beeville TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 4,553 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; a few clouds at 3,900 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from KCRP, 39 miles away
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 March 5, 2020. 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 | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | CFI Email Question | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Robinson Helicopter Company Documents | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Robinson Helicopter Company NTSB Party Member 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.