Robinson R-22B accident near Carlsbad, California, July 25, 1992
On July 25, 1992 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N2335Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carlsbad, 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
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM DURING A SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE, AND THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 1992 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Carlsbad, California · 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
- N2335Q · no longer on the register · serial 2154
- 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 CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR SAID THAT HE AND HIS COMMERCIALLY RATED DUAL STUDENT WERE PRACTICING SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURES AFTER TAKE OFF. HE SAID THAT DURING THEIR THIRD PRACTICE ENGINE FAILURE, THE 'HELICOPTER GOT TOO CLOSE TO THE GROUND, AND THE (MAIN ROTOR) RPM (HAD) NOT RECOVERED HIGH ENOUGH FOR (CONTINUED) FLIGHT.' THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR SAID HE TOOK THE CONTROLS FROM THE STUDENT AND SLID THE HELICOPTER ON TO ROUGH AND UNEVEN TERRAIN. HE SAID THAT DURING THE LANDING SLIDE, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM AND SEVERED THE REAR SECTION OF THE TAIL BOOM.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,380 hours in all; 650 in this make and model; 128 in the last 90 days; 8,080 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 149 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 2000; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Civic Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: CRQ at 11:45 pm
- Destination: CRQ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 N2335Q 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.