Robinson R22A accident near Pinon Hills, California, June 23, 1990
On June 23, 1990 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Robinson R22A (helicopter), registered N84378, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pinon Hills, California. It was a personal 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM DURING AN ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 1990 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pinon Hills, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22A · all R22As on the register
- Registration
- N84378 · registry record · serial 370
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE RECENTLY CERTIFICATED 200-POUND PILOT AND HIS 190-POUND PASSENGER LANDED WITHOUT DIFFICULTY AT A 4000-FOOT MSL SITE. ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER, WITH AN AIR TEMPERATURE OF 92 DEGREES F, THE PILOT AND PASSENGER ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF. THE HELICOPTER CLIMBED 30 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND THEN LOST ROTOR RPM. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL AND DESCENDED INTO TREES. THE COMPUTED DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6950 FEET.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 165 hours in all; 123 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 90 as pilot in command
- 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: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sundance Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Destination: WJF Lancaster CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.