Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near Milton, Florida, August 24, 2026
On August 24, 2026 at about 7:56 pm local time, a 2006 Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, registered N979SH, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Milton, Florida (Peter Prince Fld airport). It was an other work-use 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
The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a low hover over a grass area, which resulted in left skid contact with the ground and a dynamic rollover to the left.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2026 · about 7:56 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Milton, Florida · Peter Prince Fld · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA NO SERIES, built 2006 · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N979SH · registry record · serial 4073
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that she and a mechanic, who was not a pilot, completed a local 30-minute premaintenance check flight of the helicopter uneventfully. After returning to the departure airport, the flight instructor asked the mechanic if he would like to try and hover over a grass area near the runway. During the hover, the mechanic over-controlled the cyclic, and the helicopter rolled left. The left skid contacted the ground and the helicopter continued to (dynamically) roll left onto its left side, resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor blades and tailboom. The flight instructor added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter.
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 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
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 396 hours in all; 312 in this make and model; 365 as pilot in command; 96 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 2, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 29, 2026; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from NDZ, 4 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KNDZ 241856Z 00000KT 10SM FEW040 SCT080 BKN120 BKN250 32/26 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP134 SVR T2 SET T03170256 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 1, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Passenger Written Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photograph | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N979SH on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Robinson R22 817 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A 254 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Peter Prince Field · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Florida 6,111 since 1982 · 989 in the last ten years
- Florida 21,712 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA26LA313.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.