Robinson R22B accident near Lake Hughes, California, January 11, 1992
On January 11, 1992 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Robinson R22B (helicopter), registered N2634N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Hughes, California. It was a personal 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 PILOT TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM WHILE MANEUVERING AND HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF THE LANDING FLARE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 11, 1992 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Hughes, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22B · all R22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2634N · no longer on the register · serial 0795
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 77 HOUR NEWLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT SAID HE PERFORMED A RIGHT 180 DEGREE TURN AT ABOUT 500 FEET AGL. DURING THE TURN THE LOW ROTOR RPM WARNING HORN AND LIGHT CAME ON. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN ROTOR RPM BY MANIPULATING THE THROTTLE AND COLLECTIVE CONTROLS, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION, LANDED HARD AND THE MAIN ROTOR SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE HELICOPTER.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 77 hours in all; 77 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 39 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,680 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 6, 1992; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Watson Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: WJF Lancaster CA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: WHP Pacoima CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N2634N 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.