Robinson R22B accident near San Luis Obispo, California, May 22, 1998
On May 22, 1998 at about 2:24 am local time, a Robinson R22B (helicopter), registered N2312N, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Luis Obispo, California (San Luis Obispo airport). 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 flight instructor's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing was wind gusts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1998 · about 2:24 am local time
- Place
- San Luis Obispo, California · San Luis Obispo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22B · all R22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2312N · registry record · serial 2018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor asked the student to demonstrate an autorotation from a hover approximately 2 to 3 feet high. The CFI stayed on the controls throughout the maneuver. After they closed the throttle, the helicopter moved backwards and to the left. As the helicopter touched the ground, the rear portion of the left skid became imbedded in the runway surface and the aircraft rolled over onto its left side. The aircraft came to rest approximately 180 degrees from its original heading. The winds at the time were reported to be from a direction of 310 degrees at a velocity of 18 knots gusting to 22 knots. The CFI reported that they conducted all their maneuvers into the wind.
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: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 362 hours in all; 362 in this make and model; 113 in the last 90 days; 83 in the last 30 days; 326 as pilot in command; 150 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,274 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 8, 1998; 60 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: SBP at 1:40 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,259 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 18 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 am from SBP
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 N2312N 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.