Robinson R-22B accident near Simi Valley, California, March 23, 1994
On March 23, 1994 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N4081P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Simi Valley, 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 STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER HOVERING AUTOROTATION BY ALLOWING THE HELICOPTER TO DRIFT LATERALLY AND REARWARD, RESULTING IN THE HELICOPTER ROLLING OVER DURING TOUCHDOWN, AND THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 23, 1994 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Simi Valley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B · all R-22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4081P · registry record · serial 1786
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT WERE PRACTICING HOVERING AUTOROTATIONS IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE STUDENT PILOT ALLOWED THE HELICOPTER TO DRIFT LATERALLY DURING THE AUTOROTATION. THE HELICOPTER'S SKID TUBE CAUGHT ON THE GROUND AS THE STUDENT PILOT INCREASED THE COLLECTIVE. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT INDICATED HE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO CORRECT THE STUDENT PILOT.
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: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,400 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 1,920 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,297 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 1994; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Orbic Helicopter, INC
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.
Other NTSB records under N4081P 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.