Robinson R-22 Beta accident near St. Clair Rgnl., Missouri, August 28, 2007
On August 28, 2007 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 Beta (helicopter), registered N143SH, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Clair Rgnl., Missouri (St. Clair Regional 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 overcorrected following a loss of control while practicing a hovering turn.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2007 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- St. Clair Rgnl., Missouri · St. Clair Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 Beta · all R-22 Betas on the register
- Registration
- N143SH · registry record · serial 4132
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot overcorrected during a hovering taxi turn and the tail rotor struck the ground. The student pilot then autorotated to a hard landing which collapsed the landing gear.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 54 hours in all; 54 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 612.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSUS St. Louis MO at 6:15 pm
- Destination: K39 St. Clair MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 3,198 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from SUS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.