Robinson R-22B accident near Honolulu, Hawaii, November 22, 1994
On November 22, 1994 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N31MK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Honolulu, Hawaii (Honolulu International airport). 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 student pilot's improper use of the collective and throttle controls and his failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm during a practice autorotation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 1994 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Honolulu, Hawaii · Honolulu International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B · all R-22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N31MK · registry record · serial 0930
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS TAKING A PRIVATE PILOT PRACTICAL FLIGHT TEST WITH A DESIGNATED EXAMINER ON BOARD. ACCORDING TO THE EXAMINER, THE APPLICANT COMPLETED THE FIRST PART OF THE PRACTICAL TEST SATISFACTORILY. THE LAST MANEUVER TO BE PERFORMED WAS A RECOVERY FROM A 180-DEGREE AUTOROTATION. THE APPLICANT ENTERED THE MANEUVER SATISFACTORILY; HOWEVER, AT THE BOTTOM HAD ALLOWED THE MAIN ROTOR RPM TO DECAY AND BEGAN TO ADD COLLECTIVE INPUT WITHOUT ADEQUATE THROTTLE INPUT. THE EXAMINER SAID HE TOOK CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER, BUT COULD NOT REGAIN MAIN ROTOR RPM PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT.
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: student
- Flight time: 62 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 12 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,155 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 10, 1994; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HNL at 10:20 pm
- Destination: HNL HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from HNL
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.