Robinson R-22B accident near Byron, California, March 28, 1995
On March 28, 1995 at about 1:00 am local time, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N8320A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Byron, 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 unsuitable terrain selected by the pilots.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 1995 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Byron, 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
- N8320A · registry record · serial 2510
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRACTICE AUTOROTATION WAS MADE TO WHAT APPEARED, TO THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, TO BE A SUITABLE LANDING SITE, BUT THE GROUND UNDERNEATH WAS SOFT AND WET. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDS SANK INTO THE SOFT GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED FORWARD. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ONTO ITS SIDE. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,400 hours in all; 1,395 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 1,342 as pilot in command; 1,171 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 58 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 58 hours since
- 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: CCR Concord CA
- Destination: C83 CA
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.
Other NTSB records under N8320A 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.