Robinson R-22 Beta accident near Phoenix, Arizona, June 11, 2003
On June 11, 2003 at about 1:45 am local time, a Robinson R-22 Beta (helicopter), registered N7508D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's improper use of the throttle control, the certified flight instructor (CFI) inadequate supervision, and the student's control interference, which resulted in a loss of main rotor rpm.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2003 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 Beta · all R-22 Betas on the register
- Registration
- N7508D · no longer on the register · serial 3330
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter landed hard and rolled over during a power recovery from a practice autorotation. The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that he and the student experienced a "total rotor stall" due to a failure to do a power recovery. He and the student had performed a series of autorotations prior to the eventful one. The entry and glide were "very well managed, the student nailed his rpm control and pitch in the glide." During the level off from the flare, the student was beginning to raise the collective as power was restored. The CFI told the student to begin rolling on the throttle, simultaneously reaching for the throttle himself to assist the student in rolling it on. However, the student firmly gripped the throttle and rolled it off. The instructor reported that he could not override the student's input prior to a main rotor rpm decay that caused the helicopter to land hard. Due to gusty wind conditions, the helicopter was blown off course and came to rest on its left side in a mature cactus (cholla) bed. Flight and throttle control continuity was established and no preimpact anomalies were found.
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: 972 hours in all; 354 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days; 866 as pilot in command; 86 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 63 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,269 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 2003; 12.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSDL Scottsdale AZ
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from KDVT
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 N7508D 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.