Robinson R22 Beta accident near Dolan Springs, Arizona, December 23, 2002
On December 23, 2002 at about 6:37 pm local time, a Robinson R22 Beta (helicopter), registered N888KB, was destroyed in an accident near Dolan Springs, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from power lines. A factor was the pilot's decision to conduct cruise flight at a low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 23, 2002 · about 6:37 pm local time
- Place
- Dolan Springs, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 Beta · all R22 Betas on the register
- Registration
- N888KB · registry record · serial 3072
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter collided with power transmission lines while flying low over a highway and impacted desert terrain. Several witnesses stated that they observed the helicopter flying over the highway at a very low altitude and saw the helicopter's skids impacted power lines running perpendicular to the highway. The helicopter then rolled on it's side and fell to the ground. The helicopter impacted terrain and came to rest on the side of the road. Wires/cables in the area are required to be a minimum of 30 feet above ground level.
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
What happened, in order
- IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH OBJECT during cruise
- IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN/WATER during descent - uncontrolled
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none, helicopter
- Flight time: 500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: class 3
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 Series (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Destination: PHX Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°C, dew point 28°C
- Altimeter: 29.860001 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from IGM, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N888KB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX03FA054.