The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB GAA22WA072 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Robinson R22 accident near Karamea, Nz, January 2, 2022

On January 2, 2022, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered ZKHEQ, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Karamea. It was flown under general aviation rules (Part 91). The NTSB record does not give the injuries.

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
January 2, 2022
Place
Karamea, New Zealand
Type
Accident
Injuries
The NTSB record does not give the injuries.
Weather
not recorded
Aircraft
Robinson R22 Beta II · all R22s on the register
Registration
ZKHEQ · no longer on the register
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

What happened, in order

  1. Unknown or undetermined during enroute (cruise) defining event

The aircraft

  • Landing gear: fixed

Weather at the time

  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

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.

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.