Robinson R-22 BETA accident near Livermore, California, September 23, 1993
On September 23, 1993 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 BETA (helicopter), registered N2407X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Livermore, California (Livermore airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
A partial engine power loss that resulted in a hard landing due to the engine primer system becoming unlocked.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1993 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Livermore, California · Livermore · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 BETA · all R-22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N2407X · registry record · serial 1883
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD STABILIZED THE AIRCRAFT IN A HOVER AND WAS DESCENDING FOR LANDING FROM ABOUT 30 FEET AGL. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE RATE OF DESCENT INCREASED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ADD FORWARD CYCLIC TO PERFORM A RUNNING LANDING. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE COLLAPSING THE SKIDS AND DAMAGING THE ROTORS AND FUSELAGE. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE PRIMER SYSTEM DISCLOSED THAT THE PRIMER HANDLE WAS UNLOCKED. THE PRIMER HAD UNLOCKED ON THIS HELICOPTER ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCASIONS.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,160 hours in all; 94 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 200 as pilot in command; 538 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,632 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 6, 1993; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:10 pm from LVK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.