Robinson R22 accident near Scottsdale, Arizona, January 9, 1991
On January 9, 1991 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N8005E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Scottsdale, Arizona. 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 INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S DELAY IN EXECUTING A RECOVERY FLARE FROM THE AUTOROTATIVE DESCENT, AND THE HELICOPTER'S INADEQUATE ALTITUDE DURING FLARE. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS RELATED TO THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT BEING INATTENTIVE TO HIS STUDENT'S PERFORMANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 9, 1991 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Scottsdale, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N8005E · registry record · serial 896
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI AND HIS STUDENT WERE PRACTICING AUTOROTATIONS. ACCORDING TO THE CFI, HE HAD OBSERVED THAT HIS STUDENT WAS RECOVERING WITH INADEQUATE ALTITUDE. THE CFI REPORTED THAT HE FAILED TO TAKE THE CONTROLS AWAY FROM HIS STUDENT AT A SUFFICIENTLY HIGH ALTITUDE TO EFFECTIVELY FLARE. AS A RESULT, DURING THE CFI'S LOW ALTITUDE FLARE THE TAIL BOOM CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER.
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: 799 hours in all; 799 in this make and model; 342 in the last 90 days; 88 in the last 30 days; 700 as pilot in command; 599 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Unknown (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-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Arizona Wing & Rotor, INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- 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.
Other NTSB records under N8005E 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.