Robinson R-22 accident near Livermore, California, September 26, 1991
On September 26, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N2302A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Livermore, 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
1) INCORRECT CONTROL INPUT BY THE STUDENT PILOT AND 2) THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF HIS STUDENT. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Livermore, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N2302A · registry record · serial 1903
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT STATED THAT HE AND HIS STUDENT WERE PRACTICING SLOPE LANDINGS. HE SAID THAT THE LEFT SKID WAS AGAINST THE SLOPE AND A GUST OF WIND SHIFTED THE HELICOPTER. HE SAID THAT THE STUDENT PILOT DID NOT APPLY THE CORRECT FLIGHT CONTROL INPUT 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: 411 hours in all; 411 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 360 as pilot in command; 210 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 128 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 6, 1991; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Nice Air
The flight
- Departed from: RHV San Jose CA at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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 N2302A 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.