Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near Yoakum, Texas, June 17, 2022
On June 17, 2022 at about 1:20 pm local time, a 2003 Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, registered N743DP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Yoakum, Texas (Yoakum Municipal 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of helicopter control on approach to land due to a settling with power condition, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2022 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- Yoakum, Texas · Yoakum 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 2003 · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N743DP · registry record · serial 3429
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to complete a solo cross-country for the requirements of an additional rotorcraft rating. He conducted a steep approach to the runway and was about 5 to 10 ft above the ground when the helicopter began settling with power. He attempted to fly forward but the helicopter continued to descend. He added that he might have increased the collective input and pulled back on the cyclic. The helicopter landed hard and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage steel tubing structure. 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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,457 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 6,905 as pilot in command; 3,459 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 15, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,354.3 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 22, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Veracity Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: T20 Gonzalez TX at 1:00 pm
- Destination: T85 Yoakum TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,444 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 am from KVCT, 29 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KVCT 171351Z 14004KT 7SM SCT030 28/24 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP175 T02780239
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN22LA304.