Robinson R-22 BETA accident near Corona, California, February 16, 1990
On February 16, 1990 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 BETA (helicopter), registered N777FH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Corona, California. 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
HELICOPTER ROLLING OVER IN A DIRT FIELD AFTER THE PILOT WAS DEMONSTRATING AN ENGINE FAIURE AND AUTOROTATION MANEUVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 16, 1990 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Corona, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 BETA · all R-22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N777FH · registry record · serial 1107
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT REPORTEDLY HAD A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING A SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE. THE ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH THE ROTOR RPM IN THE GREEN ARC. THE AUTOROTATION IN A DIRT FIELD FOUND THE TOES OF THE SKIDS DIGGING INTO THE GROUND WHICH ROLLED THE AIRCRAFT OVER ONTO ITS SIDE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION NOR DID THE PILOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE IN HIS REPORT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter
- Flight time: 581 hours in all; 365 in this make and model; 266 in the last 90 days; 125 in the last 30 days; 510 as pilot in command; 369 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:00 am
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.