Robinson R22 accident near Bradenton Beach, Florida, April 13, 2019
On April 13, 2019 at about 4:20 pm local time, a 1979 Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N689M, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Bradenton Beach, Florida. 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to execute a low altitude turn that resulted in a strong tailwind and to reduce the airspeed to 0 knots and the flight instructor's diverted attention and inadequate monitoring, which resulted in the helicopter settling with power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 2019 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Bradenton Beach, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 UNDESIGNAT, built 1979 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N689M · registry record · serial 689M
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that during an instructional flight, he was flying the helicopter about 100 ft above water while the flight instructor took photographs. The pilot executed a 180° turn into a tailwind. The flight instructor stated that the pilot then pulled back on the cyclic and the airspeed reduced to 0 knots. The pilot indicated that immediately after the turn, the helicopter lost power and/or lift and that “the wind might have shifted.” The helicopter quickly settled with power and impacted the water, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor, fuselage, and tailboom. The flight instructor stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter. He further reported that the accident happened so fast that he did not have time to take the controls and recover. The pilot’s low altitude turn into the tailwind and reduction in airspeed led to the helicopter settling with power. The flight instructor's diverted attention likely precluded adequate monitoring and delayed his recognition of the conditions that led to the helicopter settling with power and thus provide appropriate remedial action.
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
- Settling with power/vortex ring state during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,476 hours in all; 160 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 1,414 as pilot in command; 9 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 18, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 354 hours in all; 999,999 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 242 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 18, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,084 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 16, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 7,084 hours total
- Operator: Boatphoto Helicopter Llc
The flight
- Departed from: X36 Englewood FL at 3:00 pm
- Destination: CLW Clearwater FL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from SRQ, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA19TA153.