Robinson R-22 accident near Redding, California, May 21, 1995
On May 21, 1995 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N8363Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Redding, California. It was a personal 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 pilot's improper use of the flight controls. The downward-sloping terrain and the intermittent gusty wind conditions were factors in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1995 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Redding, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N8363Q · no longer on the register · serial 0309
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS LANDING THE HELICOPTER IN AN OPEN AREA ON THE NORTH SIDE OF A LAKE. THE LANDING AREA TERRAIN SLOPED DOWNWARD WITH TREES TO THE NORTH. ON THE INITIAL TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT FELT THE LEFT SKID TOUCH UNEVEN TERRAIN. THE PILOT RAISED THE HELICOPTER TO A 2-FOOT HOVER. MOMENTS LATER, A GUST OF WIND STRUCK THE HELICOPTER. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO ROLL TO THE LEFT AND THE PILOT APPLIED COLLECTIVE AND CYCLIC INPUTS. THE HELICOPTER RESPONDED TO THE CONTROL INPUTS AND ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND TRAVELED REARWARD UNTIL IT HIT A TREE. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE HELICOPTER DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. GROUND WITNESSES CONFIRMED THE PILOT'S STATEMENT AND ALSO SAID THAT GUSTY WINDS EXISTED IN THE LANDING AREA, BUT NOT ON THE LAKE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 461 hours in all; 137 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 461 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,629 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 1995; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots, gusting 9
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.
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.