Robinson R22B accident near Prescott, Arizona, September 11, 2008
On September 11, 2008 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Robinson R22B (helicopter), registered N227GH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prescott, Arizona (Ernest A. Love Field Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm and the instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2008 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Prescott, Arizona · Ernest A. Love Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22B · all R22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N227GH · registry record · serial 4044
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A certified flight instructor (CFI) and a student were practicing 180-degree autorotations. While turning final, the airspeed decayed and the student responded by pushing forward on the cyclic. The main rotor rpm dropped to 95 percent as the helicopter was descending. The instructor added throttle but was unable to arrest the descent rate or to recover the main rotor rpm. The right front skid contacted the ground, then the rotor struck the tail boom. The helicopter entered a right spin, drifted to the left, and rolled over. The pilots reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.
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
- Autorotation Hard landing defining event
- Roll over during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Prop/rotor parameters › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 582 hours in all; 502 in this make and model; 169 in the last 90 days; 59 in the last 30 days; 521 as pilot in command; 379 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 18, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 84 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 3, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,254 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2008; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Guidance Helicopters, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: PRC Prescott AZ at 10:45 pm
- Destination: PRC Prescott AZ
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 11:41 pm from PRC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
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 LAX08CA298.