Robinson R22Beta accident near Simi Valley, California, November 24, 1990
On November 24, 1990, a Robinson R22Beta (helicopter), registered N80783, was destroyed in an accident near Simi Valley, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A DIVERGENCE OF THE MAIN ROTOR FROM ITS NORMAL PLANE OF ROTATION FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, WHICH RESULTED IN ROTOR CONTACT TO THE TAILBOOM AND COCKPIT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 24, 1990
- Place
- Simi Valley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22Beta · all R22Betas on the register
- Registration
- N80783 · no longer on the register · serial 1319
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI STATED THE STUDENT WAS A 'BETTER THAN AVERAGE' PILOT. THE STUDENT HAD ACCUMULATED 37 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO PRACTICE TAKEOFFS, APPROACH TO LANDINGS, AND TRAFFIC PATTERNS. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN THE LOCAL PRACTICE AREA. THERE WERE NO EYE WITNESSES TO THE CRASH. THE WRECKAGE WAS PARTIALLY CONSUMED BY FIRE, AND THE UPPER LEFT DOOR FRAME WAS FOUND SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE AND EXHIBITED BLACK PAINT TRANSFER FROM BEING STRUCK BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE DIVERGED FROM ITS NORMAL PLANE OF ROTATION AND SEVERED THE TAILBOOM.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 160 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 115 in the last 90 days; 41 in the last 30 days; 65 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
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Orbic Helicopter INC.
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 11:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:46 pm from VNY, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.