Robinson R-22 BETA accident near Folsom, California, March 12, 1993
On March 12, 1993, a Robinson R-22 BETA (helicopter), registered N4072T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Folsom, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT DURING A APPROACH FOR LANDING, IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION TO ARREST THE RATE OF DESCENT, AND A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER MAIN ROTOR RPM. THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL AERONAUTICAL EXPERIENCE WAS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 12, 1993
- Place
- Folsom, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 BETA · all R-22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N4072T · no longer on the register · serial 1747
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFF AND LANDINGS IN THE LOCAL PRACTICE AREA. ON THE NINTH APPROACH, THE HELICOPTER DEVELOPED A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT AND A STEEP APPROACH ANGLE. THE STUDENT FLARED AND APPLIED POWER TO ARREST THE DESCENT. THE MAIN ROTOR RPM DECAYED AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND BOUNCED INTO THE AIR. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN.
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: 27 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,049 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 17, 1993; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sunrise Air
The flight
- Departed from: Rancho Cordova CA at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 29,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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 N4072T 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.