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).
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2022 · about 1:20 pm local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Yoakum, Texas · Yoakum Municipal Airport · cases near this 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 22, 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N743DP on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Robinson R22 817 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 1,067 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Yoakum Municipal · nearest airport
- Roger M Dreyer Memorial · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,065 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,945 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN22LA304.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.