Robinson R-22B accident near Paso Robles, California, November 10, 1990
On November 10, 1990 at about 10:55 pm local time, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N26610, was substantially damaged in an accident near Paso Robles, 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 PILOT'S DELAY IN TAKING APPROPRIATE REMEDIAL ACTION. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FLIGHT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A TAILWIND DURING THE TERMINATION PHASE OF THE AUTO ROTATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 1990 · about 10:55 pm local time
- Place
- Paso Robles, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B · all R-22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N26610 · no longer on the register · serial 0857
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR SAID THAT HE WAS DEMONSTRATING 180 DEGREE AUTO ROTATIONS TO HIS STUDENT. HE STATED THAT AS THE HELICOPTER NEARED THE GROUND HE 'ENCOUNTERED A TAILWIND NEAR THE SURFACE AND WAS IN A SETTLING WITH POWER CONDITION.' THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD WHEN THE INSTRUCTOR WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE RATE OF DESCENT PRIOR TO GROUND CONTACT.
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: 1,431 hours in all; 1,390 in this make and model; 271 in the last 90 days; 129 in the last 30 days; 1,368 as pilot in command; 845 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ 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: Kyodo Air
The flight
- Departed from: PRB at 10:00 pm
- Destination: PRB
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- 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.
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.