Robinson R22 Beta accident near Waimea, Hawaii, July 7, 2003
On July 7, 2003, a Robinson R22 Beta (helicopter), registered N8318A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waimea, Hawaii (Waimea-Kohala Airport). 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 certified flight instructor (CFI) delayed remedial action in response to the excessive descent rate initiated by the student during the practice autorotation. Also causal, was the CFI's inadequate supervision of the student during the flight. A possible tail wind condition and the pilot identified gusts were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 2003
- Place
- Waimea, Hawaii · Waimea-Kohala Airport · 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
- N8318A · registry record · serial 2485
- 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. The purpose of the flight was to prepare the student for a commercial flight test the following day. After a series of maneuvers, the CFI stopped the flight for a break and for additional fuel, then they initiated a series of practice autorotations on runway 4. After the break, two 180-degree autorotations from 1,000 feet above ground level (agl) were completed. Then they completed a 180-degree autorotation from 700 feet agl uneventfully. During a second 180-degree autorotation, about 100 feet agl at 70 knots, the CFI felt a sudden increase in the descent rate. He called for a go-around and assisted on the controls by adding throttle; however, the helicopter did not respond. The helicopter impacted the runway in a level attitude, and the skids were "spread completely." During the descent, the rpm remained "in the green," and the low rotor rpm horn did not activate. The wind conditions reported by the CFI at the airport were 040 at 20 knots, gusting to 28 knots. The closest official weather reporting station is the Kona airport, which is located 26 miles southwest of the accident site. While there are no intervening topographical features between Kona and the accident site, the Waimea-Kohala airport is at the base of Mauna Kea mountain. At 1454, the winds were 230 degrees at 10 knots, while the 1353 report showed winds from 200 degrees at 12 knots. The winds reported on the METAR observations 3 hours each side of the accident time were from the southwest at generally 10 to 15 knots. No mechanical problems were noted with the helicopter prior to the accident.
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: 815 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 121 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 160 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KOA Kona HI at 11:30 pm
- Destination: MUE Waimea 'Kohala HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 5,197 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 650 ft; a few clouds
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
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 N8318A 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.