Robinson R-22-B accident near San Jose, California, July 11, 1991
On July 11, 1991 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Robinson R-22-B (helicopter), registered N730SH, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Jose, California (Reid Hillview airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO UNLOCK THE CYCLIC TRIM AND TO MAINTAIN HIS HOVER ALTITUDE. HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE WITH THE AIRCRAFT, INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT, AND THE UNCONTROLLED DESCENT WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 1991 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- San Jose, California · Reid Hillview · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22-B · all R-22-Bs on the register
- Registration
- N730SH · no longer on the register · serial 1730
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO UNLOCK THE HELICOPTER'S CYCLIC TRIM CONTROL. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF IT HOVERED TO THE RIGHT, DESCENDED AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN AND 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: commercial pilot, student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,492 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 74 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 1,292 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 271 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 7, 1991; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Q99 San Martin CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from RHV, 1 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.
Other NTSB records under N730SH 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.