Robinson R-22 accident near Corona, California, May 8, 1993
On May 8, 1993, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N4071G, was destroyed in an accident near Corona, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ACCOMPLISH THE PUBLISHED EMERGENCY PROCEDURE BY NOT IMMEDIATELY LOWERING THE COLLECTIVE TO REGAIN MAIN ROTOR RPM. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF A CRUISE ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT TO ALLOW FOR CONTINGENCY SITUATIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1993
- Place
- Corona, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N4071G · no longer on the register · serial 1833
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A ROBINSON R-22 COLLIDED WITH TREES IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AFTER SUSTAINING LOSS OF ENGINE AND MAIN ROTOR RPM WHILE IN FORWARD FLIGHT AT 20 TO 30 KNOTS 100 TO 150 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE MAIN ROTOR RPM DROOPED ABOUT 3 TO 4 PERCENT TO 101 PERCENT. THE PILOT FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY LOWER THE COLLECTIVE TO REGAIN LOST ROTOR RPM AS SPECIFIED IN THE FLIGHT MANUAL. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF PREEXISTING MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.
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: 2,404 hours in all; 2,225 in this make and model; 155 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 2,338 as pilot in command; 2,110 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,183 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 16, 1993; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RAL Riverside CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.