Robinson Helicopter R-22 BETA accident near Nashville, Tennessee, September 29, 2022
On September 29, 2022 at about 2:15 pm local time, a 2006 Robinson Helicopter R-22 BETA, registered N622MP, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Nashville, Tennessee (John C Tune airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of tail rotor effectiveness while hovering in crosswind conditions resulting in the student pilot's loss of control of the helicopter, impact with terrain, and dynamic rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 2022 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Nashville, Tennessee · John C Tune · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R-22 BETA, built 2006 · all R-22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N622MP · registry record · serial 4016
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that while hovering, the helicopter encountered a gust of wind and began to yaw to the right. The student pilot was unable to correct for the unanticipated right yaw, resulting in the forward portion of the helicopter’s right skid impacting the ground, and a subsequent dynamic rollover. The rollover resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor blades, tail boom, tail rotor, and vertical stabilizer. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of tail rotor effectiveness during maneuvering (hover)
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (hover) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (hover)
- Dynamic rollover during maneuvering (hover)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 722.1 hours in all; 22.1 in this make and model; 29.1 in the last 90 days; 19.1 in the last 30 days; 550 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 4, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,102.9 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 7, 2022; 42.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 3,723 hours total
- Operator: Rjh, LLC.
The flight
- Departed from: JWN Nashville TN at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 6,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 am from JWN
Weather report (METAR): KJWN 291350Z 06010KT 10SM CLR 14/07 A3035
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N622MP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.