Robinson R22 Beta II accident near Boise, Idaho, July 24, 2007
On July 24, 2007 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Robinson R22 Beta II (helicopter), registered N147SH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boise, Idaho (Boise Air Terminal /Gowen Fld/ airport). 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 failure to maintain rotor rpm resulting in an excessive descent rate and a hard landing. Factors in the accident were the student's failure to relinquish the controls, and the CFI's inadequate supervision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2007 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Boise, Idaho · Boise Air Terminal /Gowen Fld/ · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 Beta II · all R22 Beta IIs on the register
- Registration
- N147SH · registry record · serial 4137
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that during their fifth practice autorotation, the student let the rotor rpm decay to the point that the certified flight instructor (CFI) attempted to intercede and perform a run on landing. The student and CFI both struggled with each other on the controls until the helicopter hit the ground hard. During the impact sequence, the helicopter spun around, and ultimately came to rest on the left side.
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: 648 hours in all; 477 in this make and model; 578 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 69 hours in all; 69 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 298.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Boise ID
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from BOI
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.