Robinson R22 Beta accident near Chandler, Arizona, July 1, 2003
On July 1, 2003 at about 1:02 am local time, a Robinson R22 Beta (helicopter), registered N7508E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chandler, 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 student's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm and his failure to relinquish the controls.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2003 · about 1:02 am local time
- Place
- Chandler, 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
- N7508E · no longer on the register · serial 3433
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter made a hard landing during a practice autorotation and rolled over. The certified flight instructor (CFI) initiated a "throttle chop." The student turned the helicopter into the wind and the airspeed decreased. He lowered the nose in an attempt to gain airspeed; however, the rotor rpm began to decay. The CFI stated "I've got it," but the student did not release the controls. The CFI attempted a recovery maneuver but was unable to recover the lost rotor rpm. About 30 feet above ground level (agl), the student relinquished the controls. Just prior to impact, the helicopter shuddered. It impacted on the forward portion of the skids, the main rotor struck the tail boom, and came to rest on its right side. The student did not relinquish control until the CFI stated for a third time, "I've got it." No mechanical malfunctions were noted with the helicopter.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 874 hours in all; 874 in this make and model; 303 in the last 90 days; 98 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 177 hours in all; 161 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KCHD Chandler AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.