Robinson R22A accident near Beatty, Nevada, September 7, 1990
On September 7, 1990 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Robinson R22A (helicopter), registered N85594, was substantially damaged in an accident near Beatty, Nevada. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN INADEQUATE CRUISE ALTITUDE AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, RISING TERRAIN, AND THE PILOT'S DELAYED AND IMPROPER USE OF THE COLLECTIVE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 1990 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Beatty, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22A · all R22As on the register
- Registration
- N85594 · no longer on the register · serial 0473
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT PROVIDED HIS PASSENGER WITH A LOW ALTITUDE AERIAL SURVEY OF A RACE CAR ROUTE WHICH INVOLVED FLYING OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN BETWEEN 100 AND 150 ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. DURING THE FLIGHT THE HELICOPTER ENTERED AN AREA OF RAPIDLY RISING TERRAIN, AND THE LOW ROTOR RPM WARNING HORN SOUNDED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY LOWER THE COLLECTIVE. HE STATED, HOWEVER, THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN ROTOR RPM WHILE MANEUVERING THE HELICOPTER IN A LEFT TURN TO REVERSE COURSE. THE PILOT FURTHER INDICATED THAT THE HELICOPTER DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED SO HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATIVE DESCENT. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD ON THE SLOPING TERRAIN AND ROLLED OVER. THE CRASH SITE'S ELEVATION WAS 6,300 FEET MSL. THE CALCULATED DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS AT LEAST 9,000 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 562 hours in all; 555 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 63 in the last 30 days; 370 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°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.
Other NTSB records under N85594 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.