Robinson R22A accident near San Luis Obispo, California, May 19, 1999
On May 19, 1999, a Robinson R22A (helicopter), registered N8558N, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Luis Obispo, California. 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's inadvertent and uncoordinated application of forward cyclic during an autorotation flare, which resulted in a loss of main rotor rpm; and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 1999
- Place
- San Luis Obispo, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22A · all R22As on the register
- Registration
- N8558N · no longer on the register · serial 0466
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instructor stated the student entered a practice autorotation at 1,400 feet (600 feet agl) to a landing site on top of a hill about 800 feet high. As the flare was initiated at 40 to 50 feet, the instructor mentioned to the student that the cyclic trim was engaged. When the student unexpectedly reached forward and tried to push the trim control knob in, he inadvertently pushed forward on the cyclic control. The instructor said this pitched the nose of the helicopter down and resulted in a bleed off of main rotor rpm. When the low rotor horn and warning light came on the instructor took control of the helicopter and rolled in throttle. The lowest rpm he recalls seeing was slightly above 90 percent. He made a left turn to avoid hitting the hill and encountered a strong downdraft due to the gusty winds. The helicopter touched down on the left skid during the turn and rolled over twice.
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: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 369 hours in all; 364 in this make and model; 164 in the last 90 days; 125 in the last 30 days; 317 as pilot in command; 149 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,536 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 7, 1999; 48 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 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 17 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 52°F (11°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.