Robinson R-22B accident near Rio Vista, California, September 27, 1991
On September 27, 1991 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N8069Q, was destroyed in an accident near Rio Vista, California (Rio Vista Municipal 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 IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 1991 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Vista, California · Rio Vista Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B · all R-22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8069Q · no longer on the register · serial 1284
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE CHIEF FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, THE STUDENT WAS ON HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT. HE SAID THAT ON ATTEMPTING TO 'PICK-UP' THE HELICOPTER, THE STUDENT PILOT DID NOT 'ZERO' THE CONTROLS DURING THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF TO A HOVER. THE HELICOPTER REPORTEDLY SPUN TO THE RIGHT, A SKID CONTACTED THE GROUND, AND THE HELICOPTER ENTERED DYNAMIC ROLL 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: student
- Flight time: 33 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,350 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 16, 1991; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
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.
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.