Robinson R-22 accident near Long Beach, California, April 29, 1995
On April 29, 1995 at about 3:58 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N9067B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Long Beach, California (Long Beach 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 pilot's misjudged landing flare. A factor in the accident was the illusion of a lower than actual altitude created by the high vegetation which led the pilot to flare early.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 1995 · about 3:58 pm local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Long Beach · 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
- N9067B · no longer on the register · serial 0158
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FIXED WING AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT WAS PRACTICING AUTOROTATIONS IN PREPARATION OF HIS ROTORCRAFT - HELICOPTER RATING FLIGHT TEST. ON THE LAST AUTOROTATION, THE PILOT OVERSHOT THE HELIPAD AND FLARED THE HELICOPTER OVER HIGH VEGETATION. THE HIGH VEGETATION GAVE THE PILOT THE IMPRESSION THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A RUN-ON LANDING. THE HELICOPTER DROPPED 3 FEET AND THE LEFT SKID BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE HIGH VEGETATION AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 790 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 14, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGB at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from LGB
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 N9067B 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.