Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near Garnett, Kansas, March 26, 2022
On March 26, 2022 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1998 Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, registered N7087X, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Garnett, Kansas (Garnett Municipal Airport). 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 pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control while hovering which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 2022 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Garnett, Kansas · Garnett Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, built 1998 · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N7087X · no longer on the register · serial 2829
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After refueling the helicopter, the pilot entered into a light hover to return to his hangar. Due to obstacles on the left side of the helicopter, the pilot attempted to hover taxi horizontally to the right. While executing this maneuver, the right skid contacted the ramp and the helicopter entered into a dynamic rollover and came to rest on its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Dynamic rollover during maneuvering (hover) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (hover)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (hover)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,115 hours in all; 293 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 5,647 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 11, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,798 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 1,798 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K68 Garnett KS at 8:10 pm
- Destination: K68 Garnett KS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from KUKL, 24 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KUKL 262135Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 15/M12 A3009 RMK AO2 T01461116
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 20, 2022. 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 | Pilot Interview | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo of Helicopter | 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.
Other NTSB records under N7087X 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.