Robinson R-22 BETA accident near Ciales, Puerto Rico, December 26, 2000
On December 26, 2000 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 BETA (helicopter), registered N195HC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ciales, Puerto Rico. 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 crew's failure to follow procedures for a straight-in autorotation with power recovery that resulted in their improper use of collective resulting in a hard landing and substantial damage to the helicopter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 26, 2000 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ciales, Puerto Rico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 BETA · all R-22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N195HC · no longer on the register · serial 2007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor stated that he and the student had been performing autorotation landings in an open field, and when power was required by him to affect the recovery, the engine did not produce enough power. The instructor further stated that the helicopter landed hard and the main rotor hit the tail boom, separating half of it from the rest of the helicopter. An FAA inspector and an FAA licensed company mechanic examined the accident helicopter, and performed a static power test on the engine. According to the inspector, the static check was conducted for about 15 minutes, with the engine operating at idle and at full power, and no abnormalities were observed. In addition, the inspector stated that examination of the fuel filter revealed no evidence of fuel contamination.
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: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 930 hours in all; 387 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 866 as pilot in command; 137 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,267 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 13, 2000; 24 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: TSIG San Juan PR at 7:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from JSJ
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.