Robinson R22B accident near Floriston, California, September 10, 1993
On September 10, 1993 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Robinson R22B (helicopter), registered N47NH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Floriston, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the flight instructor's failure to maintain main rotor RPM after initiating a go-around from a pinnacle approach. A factor in the accident was the high density altitude condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1993 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Floriston, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22B · all R22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N47NH · no longer on the register · serial 1192
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The CFI was instructing his student in performing pinnacle approaches and landings to high density altitude mountainous locations. The student was initially flying. When the R22 had descended to 50 feet above the 6,100 ft MSL pinnacle, the CFI elected to made a go-around after observing that the terrain was not appropriate for the landing. The CFI took control of the helicopter, began turning right, and observed that the main rotor RPM decreased. The CFI attempted to recover RPM by reducing collective and rolling on full throttle. The R22 continued descending until colliding with a tree and terrain.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,225 hours in all; 811 in this make and model; 163 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 1,113 as pilot in command; 674 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,982 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 31, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Helicopter Adventures, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV at 6:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.
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.