Robinson R22 Beta accident near Prescott, Arizona, June 28, 2003
On June 28, 2003 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Robinson R22 Beta (helicopter), registered N332MD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prescott, Arizona. 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 pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm, and, his improper use of the collective, throttle, and anti-torque controls during the attempted recovery. Factors in the accident were the pilot's failure to completely relinquish the controls, and the high density altitude environmental condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2003 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Prescott, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- 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
- N332MD · registry record · serial 2991
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter impacted the ground and rolled over during a practice autorotation. The purpose of the flight was a check ride with a designated pilot examiner (DPE) for the pilot's private helicopter rating. After completing a series of maneuvers, an autorotation was initiated. According to the DPE, the entry and flare were uneventful, and the pilot applied power to recover; the engine rpm and rotor rpm needles were "in the green." The pilot then began to cushion the descent with collective. During this cushion, the low rotor rpm horn activated. The check pilot expected the pilot to lower the collective slightly and roll on additional throttle; instead, the pilot lowered the collective "almost all the way down" and rolled some throttle off. At this point the helicopter was very close to the ground. The check pilot told the pilot "I have the controls." The helicopter entered a right turn and the check pilot intended to "let the aircraft continue into a slow right turn and milk whatever power we had to fly out of it." At this time, the check pilot felt the right pedal move against his foot, and the helicopter settled to the ground at an angle. After bouncing once, it touched down on the left skid, and rolled over. After the accident, the check pilot asked the pilot if he had been rolling the throttle off as he was pulling the collective up during the cushion portion of the autorotation. The pilot reported in the past, he had been over speeding the engine so he would slightly reduce the throttle to compensate. The pilot applied left pedal when he was attempting to align the helicopter with a track. No mechanical discrepancies were noted with the helicopter prior to the accident. The density altitude was 8,393 feet mean sea level (msl).
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 201 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,900 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,308.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 25, 2003; 9.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KPRC Prescott AZ at 3:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KPRC
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.