Robinson R-22 Beta accident near Phoenix, Arizona, July 27, 2000
On July 27, 2000 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 Beta (helicopter), registered N888KB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona. 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The helicopter had a tail rotor failure. The reason for the failure is undetermined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 2000 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 Beta R-22 · all R-22 Betas on the register
- Registration
- N888KB · registry record · serial 3072
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter had a tail rotor failure while bringing the engine up to full power before takeoff. In preparation for departure, the pilot released the control frictions and began to increase the throttle. As the power approached 95 percent, but before engaging the governor, the aircraft began to shake uncontrollably and the antitorque pedals began to move under his feet. He immediately reduced the throttle to idle, took out the checklist, and shutdown the aircraft per the instructions. He noted visible damage to the tail rotor and vertical stabilizer.
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
- AIRFRAME/COMPONENT/SYSTEM FAILURE/MALFUNCTION during standing - engine(s) operating
Pilot
- Ratings: none, none, none, none
- Flight time: 36 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 1
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 125 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 15, 2000; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 JZA (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: E25 Wickenburg AZ at 3:22 pm
- Destination: SDL Scottsdale AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scattered at 13,000 ft
- Temperature: 109°C, dew point 48°C
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from PHX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N888KB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX00LA279.