Robinson Helicopter Company R22 accident near Riverside, California, March 17, 2016
On March 17, 2016 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 1982 Robinson Helicopter Company R22, registered N9076U, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Riverside, California (Riverside Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's incorrect action performance by not applying sufficient pressure to the right anti-torque pedal, resulting in an uncontrollable left yaw, and ground impact.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 2016 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Riverside, California · Riverside Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R22 HP, built 1982
- Registration
- N9076U · no longer on the register · serial 0261
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the student pilot, during his first solo flight, he aborted his first approach and landing because he was too steep and too fast. He reported that after terminating the second approach to a hover, he attempted to set the helicopter down on the runway. The student pilot reported that while established at a five foot hover, he lowered the collective with more force than normal and the helicopter touched down hard. He reported that he attempted to establish a hover after the hard touch down and quickly increased the collective without applying sufficient right anti-torque pedal. He recalled that a rapid right yaw ensued and the helicopter spun several revolutions before impacting the ground. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the frame and tail rotor drive shaft. The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the helicopter prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing defining event
- Abrupt maneuver during landing
- Hard landing during landing
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Yaw control › Not attained/maintained
Dual student
- Flight time: 36 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 0.2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 26, 2016; 12,498 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 10,550 hours total
- Operator: California Aviation Services INC
The flight
- Departed from: RAL Riverside CA at 3:44 pm
- Destination: RAL Riverside CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,850 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 2:58 pm from KRIV, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on May 2, 2016. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.