Robinson R22-B accident near Venice, California, July 28, 1993
On July 28, 1993 at about 2:30 am local time, a Robinson R22-B (helicopter), registered N23517, was substantially damaged in an accident near Venice, 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 failure of the pilot to maintain proper main rotor RPM, altitude, and airspeed during the performance of a steep turn. Inadequate in-flight planning and overconfidence in the pilot's abilities were factors in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1993 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Venice, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22-B · all R22-Bs on the register
- Registration
- N23517 · no longer on the register · serial 2231
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS CONDUCTING A TRAINING FLIGHT WITH A STUDENT PILOT. WITNESSES REPORTED OBSERVING THE HELICOPTER NORTHBOUND AT LOW LEVEL, PARALLELING A BEACH. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN AN ABRUPT CLIMB TO ABOUT 150 FEET, FOLLOWED BY A RAPID DESCENDING 180 DEGREE RIGHT TURN TO GO SOUTHBOUND. AS THE HELICOPTER WAS COMPLETING THE TURN AND STILL DESCENDING, IT STRUCK THE BEACH IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS DEMONSTRATING COLLISION AVOIDANCE MANEUVERS BY BEGINNING A TIGHT 36O DEGREE TURN. DURING THE TURN, THE MAIN ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO DECAY AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE OR AIRSPEED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 870 hours in all; 850 in this make and model; 318 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 780 as pilot in command; 590 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 702 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 27, 1993; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Complete Aviation Services INC
The flight
- Departed from: BUR Burbank CA at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.