Robinson R-22B accident near Phoenix, Arizona, June 17, 1991
On June 17, 1991 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N4034K, was destroyed in an accident near Phoenix, 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 FAILURE OF THE STUDENT TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER ROTOR RPM WHILE PERFORMING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION, AND, THE FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TO PROPERLY SUPERVISE THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGHT AND TO TAKE TIMELY CORRECTIVE ACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 1991 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · 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
- N4034K · no longer on the register · serial 1515
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR SAID THAT THE STUDENT WAS PERFORMING AUTOROTATIONS WITH POWER RECOVERIES. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT DURING THE LAST AUTOROTATION SHE HEARD THE LOW ROTOR SPEED WARNING HORN AND INITIATED A THROTTLE INCREASE TO RECOVER. ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTOR, THE ENGINE AND ROTOR FAILED TO RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE INCREASE AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. A POST CRASH FIRE IGNITED AND CONSUMED THE AIRCRAFT. FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE IN THE SURVIVING COMPONENTS.
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: 222 hours in all; 222 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 186 as pilot in command; 28 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Arizona Wing And Rotor, INC
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 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.
Other NTSB records under N4034K 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.