Robinson R22 accident near Del Ray Beach, Florida, June 21, 2009
On June 21, 2009 at about 5:20 am local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N2306T, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (change of cruise level) near Del Ray Beach, Florida. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight failure of the main drive vee belts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 2009 · about 5:20 am local time
- Place
- Del Ray Beach, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N2306T · no longer on the register · serial 1951
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), they were at 3000 feet with an airspeed of 65 -70 knots when he felt a low frequency vibration throughout the helicopter. He described the vibration as being a lateral vibration as if coming from the tailrotor. He did not remember feeling the vibration in the pedal or cyclic, but more of an overall vibration. According to the student pilot, during a change in cruise altitude from 3,500 feet mean sea level (MSL) to 4,000 msl, they felt an airframe vibration. The vibration increased in intensity to a point where they could not read the instrument panel and they both observed the rotor brake light and clutch light illuminate. The CFI took control of the helicopter and initiated an emergency autorotation. Examination of both main drive vee belts showed they were off their pulleys. The forward vee belt left black residue on the front side of the pulley and shaft. The rear vee belt was broken in two and also had breaks in the center between the two V sections. Other than the breaks, the belts had no evidence of deterioration. There was no indication that the belts had visible damaged prior to the flight. A review of the helicopters logbooks found no entries as to when the belts were last changed.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute (change of cruise level) defining event
- Autorotation Off-field or emergency landing
- Autorotation Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › (general) › (general) › Damaged/degraded
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 368 hours in all; 95 in the last 90 days; 285 as pilot in command; 136 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 19, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine sea
- Flight time: 104 hours in all; 58 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 17, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,631 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 29, 2009; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O320-B2L (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Airmen Testing And Training, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: LNA Lantana FL at 5:05 am
- Destination: TMB Miami FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 am from PBI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.