Robinson R22 beta accident near Fortuna, California, April 23, 2001
On April 23, 2001 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Robinson R22 beta (helicopter), registered N806EH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fortuna, California (Franklin 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
The student's improper procedure during a practice emergency that exceeded the instructor's reaction capability.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 2001 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fortuna, California · Franklin Field · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 beta · all R22 betas on the register
- Registration
- N806EH · registry record · serial 1452
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was practicing hover autorotation maneuvers. Three hover autorotations had been conducted jointly, with both the student and the flight instructor on the flight controls. The fourth attempt was to be done with only the student holding the fllight controls. According to the instructor, when he reduced the throttle to initiate the practice hover autorotation, the student lowered the collective so abruptly that he could not prevent a hard landing. After landing, the helicopter rolled onto its side.
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; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 580 hours in all; 580 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 85 in the last 30 days; 533 as pilot in command; 300 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 2, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 20 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,687 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 18, 2001; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAC Sacramento CA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: Q53 Franklin Field CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 3,100 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from SAC, 26 miles away
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.
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.