Robinson R22 accident near Corona, California, May 30, 1990
On May 30, 1990 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N90787, was substantially damaged in an accident near Corona, California (Corona airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, FAILUE TO MAINTAIN CORRECT ROTOR RPM, AND IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1990 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Corona, California · Corona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N90787 · registry record · serial 0292
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND, HE REALIZED HIS ALTITUDE AND LANDING SPEED WERE HIGH AS WERE THE ENGINE AND ROTOR SPEEDS. HE REDUCED THE THROTTLE, THEN HE LOST CONTROL, AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SPIN. BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND, HE RAISED THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL AND PULLED THE CYCLIC STICK, BUT FAILED TO PUSH THE RIGHT PEDAL TO STOP THE SPINNING ACTION.
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
- LOSS OF CONTROL - IN FLIGHT during landing - flare/touchdown
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none, helicopter
- Flight time: 21 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 21 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 1
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: L66 Corona CA at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; not recorded at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°C, dew point 0°C
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 LAX90LA203.