Robinson R22B accident near Long Beach, California, March 21, 2001
On March 21, 2001 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Robinson R22B (helicopter), registered N8492A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Long Beach, California (Long Beach/Daugherty Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the CFI to adequately monitor the flight, which resulted in a low airspeed autorotation and hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 2001 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Long Beach/Daugherty Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22B · all R22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8492A · no longer on the register · serial 1824
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an autorotation, the pilot made a hard landing and the tail boom was severed. The purpose of the flight was to conduct pattern work, and takeoffs and landings to prepare the private pilot for his commercial pilot practical test flight. During the flight the private pilot was on the flight controls, with the CFI monitoring the flight. No discrepancies were noted with the first two takeoffs and landings. During the first autorotation, the CFI noted that the student allowed the airspeed to fall below 60 knots, and that the rotor rpm was moving outside the top of the green arc. He instructed the student to maintain airspeed at 65 knots until close to the ground, and to raise the collective to maintain rotor rpm inside the green arc. On the second autorotation, the CFI noted that the student maintained rotor rpm inside the green arc, but let the airspeed fall below 58 knots. The low rotor rpm warning horn sounded and the caution light illuminated. Due to the close proximity of the helicopter to the ground, a flare for landing was initiated. The CFI came up on the controls and noted that the collective was higher than normal. Prior to touchdown the CFI applied forward pressure on the cyclic to maintain a level attitude after touchdown. The helicopter landed hard and slid across the ground before coming to rest in a grassy area next to the helipad. The CFI noted that after coming to a stop he attempted to move the anti-torque pedals, but did not receive a response.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 406 hours in all; 380 in this make and model; 64 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 333 as pilot in command; 179 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 29, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 194 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 102 as pilot in command; 179 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 31, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,729 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 12, 2001; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGB Long Beach at 7:15 pm
- Destination: LGB
- Flight plan: none
- Runway H1, 20 ft by 20 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:06 pm from LGB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N8492A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.