Robinson R-22 accident near Chico, California, September 23, 1994
On September 23, 1994 at about 1:30 am local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N4001B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chico, California (Ranchaero airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the student pilot's improper use of the flight controls. The student pilot's lack of experience in the helicopter is a factor in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1994 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Chico, California · Ranchaero · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N4001B · registry record · serial 1388
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT HELICOPTER PILOT RECEIVED SOME DUAL INSTRUCTION BEFORE BEGINNING HIS SECOND SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT. THE INSTRUCTOR REMINDED THE STUDENT PILOT THAT HE WOULD NEED MORE RIGHT CYCLIC CONTROL THAN HE WAS USED TO. ON LIFT-OFF, THE STUDENT APPLIED TOO MUCH CYCLIC CONTROL AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT. THE INSTRUCTOR OBSERVED THE STUDENT APPLY SOME LEFT CYCLIC, BUT NOT ENOUGH. THE RIGHT SKID DUG INTO THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 130 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,720 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sierra Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N4001B 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.