Robinson R22 accident near Corvallis, Oregon, August 24, 2018
On August 24, 2018 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1991 Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N4085T, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Corvallis, Oregon (Corvallis Muni 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
The student helicopter pilot’s inadequate torque pedal application during practice approaches with a tailwind, which resulted in a loss of yaw control and a subsequent hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2018 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Corvallis, Oregon · Corvallis Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA, built 1991 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N4085T · no longer on the register · serial 1841
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student helicopter pilot reported that he was practicing takeoffs and landings to a taxiway and that he was preparing for a steep approach. The steep approach required more left pedal, which resulted in the helicopter being "out of trim (right yaw)." A tailwind accelerated the right yaw. He attempted to recover but added "insufficient left pedal." The helicopter then spun and landed hard. The helicopter came to rest on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the windshield, fuselage, and tailboom. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 34 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 290° at 3 knots. The same automated station reported that, about 26 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 030° at 6 knots. The helicopter was approaching a taxiway parallel to runway 17. The Federal Aviation Administration's Helicopter Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-21A, contained a section titled "Weathercock Stability," which stated: In this region, the helicopter attempts to weathervane, or weathercock, its nose into the relative wind. Unless a resisting pedal input is made, the helicopter starts a slow, uncommanded turn either to the right or left, depending upon the wind direction. If the pilot allows a right yaw rate to develop and the tail of the helicopter moves into this region, the yaw rate can accelerate rapidly. In order to avoid the onset of LTE [loss of tail rotor effectiveness] in this downwind condition, it is imperative to maintain positive control of the yaw rate and devote full attention to flying 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
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Loss of control in flight during landing defining event
- Loss of tail rotor effectiveness during landing
- Hard landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Yaw control › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 35.7 hours in all; 35.7 in this make and model; 22.2 in the last 90 days; 2.4 in the last 30 days; 7.1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,161 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 2, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 7,889 hours total
- Operator: Honey B Llc
The flight
- Departed from: CVO Corvallis OR at 3:30 pm
- Destination: CVO Corvallis OR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from KCVO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on November 19, 2018. 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 | Accident Photo | 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.