Robinson R-22A accident near Santa Barbara, California, February 25, 1985
On February 25, 1985 at about 11:02 pm local time, a Robinson R-22A (helicopter), registered N85550, was destroyed in an accident near Santa Barbara, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 1985 · about 11:02 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Barbara, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22A · all R-22As on the register
- Registration
- N85550 · no longer on the register · serial 0445
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
STUDENT PLT STATED THAT WHILE FLYING THE LAST LEG OF A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT HE WAS FLYING ALONG THE COAST AT 50 TO 75 FEET, HE DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION TO LOOK AT THE A MAN ON THE BEACH AND WHEN HE LOOKED BACK AT THE INSTRUMENTS HE NOTICED THE HELICOPTER WAS DESCENDING. BEFORE THE DESCENT RATE COULD BE ARRESTED THE HELICOPTER CRASHED INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. THE PILOT DOES NOT SUSPECT HE LOST POWER AT THE TIME HE ATTEMPTED TO ARREST HIS DESCENT AND POST CRASH INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE PRECRASH MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 37 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 330 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBA Santa Barbara CA at 10:40 pm
- Destination: WHP Los Angeles CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:02 pm from SBA, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.