Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near West Palm Beach, Florida, January 23, 2014
On January 23, 2014 at about 6:50 pm local time, a 2004 Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, registered N72AP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near West Palm Beach, Florida (North Palm Beach County Genera 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 certificated flight instructor's failure to maintain helicopter control during a run-on landing, resulting in a rollover and ground collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 2014 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- West Palm Beach, Florida · North Palm Beach County Genera · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA BETA, built 2004 · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N72AP · no longer on the register · serial 3541
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated flight instructor (CFI) stated that during a local training flight he was demonstrating how to perform a run-on landing to the student pilot. During the landing, the helicopter began to travel toward the right edge of the paved surface. The CFI stated he countered the right slide with left cyclic input. As the helicopter approached the paved surface edge, the CFI raised collective in order to attempt put the helicopter into a hover but the helicopter left the paved surface. The helicopter subsequently rolled over on to the right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail boom, main rotor blades, and fuselage. According to a written report, there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter prior to the accident.
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
- Simulated/training event during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Roll over during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 362 hours in all; 302 in this make and model; 118 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 6 hours in all; 6 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,232 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 7, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 1,369 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 2,232 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F45 West Palm Beach FL at 5:00 pm
- Destination: F45 West Palm Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KPBI, 12 miles away
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.