Robinson R22 accident near Irvine, California, May 9, 1990
On May 9, 1990 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N9070N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Irvine, 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
THE CFI'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM DURING THE PRACTICE AUTOROTATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 1990 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Irvine, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N9070N · no longer on the register · serial 0186
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL LESSON THE CFI DEMONSTRATED AUTOROTATION TO HIS STUDENT. THE CFI INDICATED THAT HE PLANNED TO LAND IN AN ESTABLISHED LANDING ZONE. HOWEVER, UPON RECOGNIZING THE HELICOPTER WOULD NOT REACH THE DESIRED LOCATION THE CFI DECIDED TO STOP THE DESCENT. THE CFI FURTHER REPORTED THAT HE RAISED THE COLLECTIVE WHICH INDUCED A LOW ROTOR RPM SITUATION. THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER AND THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD.
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: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 630 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 426 as pilot in command; 301 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 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: SNA Santa Ana CA at 8:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N9070N 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.