Robinson R-22-BETA accident near Piute, Nevada, September 9, 1999
On September 9, 1999 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Robinson R-22-BETA (helicopter), registered N4076Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Piute, Nevada. 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 failure of the pilot to maintain rotor rpm while practicing autorotations, resulting in a hard landing and roll over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 1999 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Piute, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22-BETA · all R-22-BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N4076Z · no longer on the register · serial 1919
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two flight instructors were practicing autorotations. The last planned autorotation began at 600 feet above ground level (agl) and 70 knots. Turning into the landing area, the pilot was maintaining rotor rpm in the green arc and the airspeed at 60 knots. As he was about to roll onto final, he heard the low rotor rpm horn and saw the rpm drop to 85 percent. As he lowered the collective, he noted he was still descending rapidly and he did not see the rpm increase substantially. He attempted a power recovery and the other pilot tried to help roll on the throttle and lower the collective. At 100 feet with full throttle and the collective lowered, the pilot recognized he would touch down and attempted to flare and lower the descent rate. The rpm remained below 80 percent and the airspeed slowed to 40 knots. He raised the collective to cushion the landing and touched down an estimated 200 feet from his intended landing spot. The helicopter landed hard and rolled over onto its right side.
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: 300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,795 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VGT at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:48 pm from VGT, 10 miles away
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.