Robinson R22 Beta accident near Long Beach, California, October 24, 2007
On October 24, 2007 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Robinson R22 Beta (helicopter), registered N7188S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Long Beach, California (Long Beach 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 student pilot's improper execution of low rotor rpm procedures. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision, failure to guard the throttle, and failure to take immediate remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 2007 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Long Beach · 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
- N7188S · no longer on the register · serial 3030
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student were practicing helicopter low rotor rpm recoveries. He instructed his student to execute the recovery when the low rpm warning system activated, both light and horn. Prior to the maneuver, the CFI demonstrated and verified that the student pilot understood the recovery procedure, which was to lower the collective and increase the throttle. The helicopter was in a 10-foot hover when the CFI decreased the rotor rpm by reducing the throttle until the low rpm warning system activated. The student pilot responded by lowering the collective and reducing the throttle instead of increasing the throttle. The helicopter yawed to the left and descended towards the ground. The tail rotor collided with the ground, shearing off the tail rotor blades and the helicopter rotated on the ground. The CFI slowed the rotation and was able to shut down 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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 561 hours in all; 457 in this make and model; 136 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 0 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KLGB Long Beach CA
- Destination: KLGB Long Beach CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway H4, 20 ft by 20 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 27°F (-3°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 N7188S 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.