Robinson R22 Beta II accident near New Braunfels, Texas, July 30, 2005
On July 30, 2005 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Robinson R22 Beta II (helicopter), registered N18VH, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Braunfels, Texas (New Braunfels Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter and delayed remedial action by the flight instructor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 2005 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- New Braunfels, Texas · New Braunfels Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 Beta II · all R22 Beta IIs on the register
- Registration
- N18VH · no longer on the register · serial 3503
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 450-hour flight instructor stated that the student pilot picked up the helicopter to a 4-foot hover into the wind. The instructor then looked behind and to the left to ensure that the taxiway was clear. At this point, the helicopter descended and caught the left skid on the pavement. The instructor stated before he "could lower collective or push cyclic to the right, the helicopter turned over on its left side".
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 450 hours in all; 352 in this make and model; 147 in the last 90 days; 87 in the last 30 days; 383 as pilot in command; 145 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 16 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Silver State Helicopters, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: BAZ New Braunfels TX
- Destination: BAZ New Braunfels TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from BAZ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.