Robinson R-22 accident near Dorado, Puerto Rico, January 12, 1994
On January 12, 1994 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N8044Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dorado, 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 INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE STUDENT AND FAILING TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES IN THE FLIGHT TRAINING GUIDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 12, 1994 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Dorado, 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 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N8044Y · no longer on the register · serial 1138
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT INITIATED A 180 DEG AUTOROTATION WITH TURN AND OVERSHOT THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN POINT. THE INSTRUCTOR ALLOWED THE STUDENT TO CONTINUE THE MANEUVER TO A GRASSY AREA LOCATED TO THE RIGHT OF THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN POINT. THE POWER RECOVERY PROCEDURES LISTED IN THE FLIGHT TRAINING GUIDE WERE NOT FOLLOWED. A POWER RECOVERY (INCREASE IN THROTTLE), AND INITIAL COLLECTIVE PITCH APPLICATION WAS MADE ABOUT 4-6 FT AGL ABOVE 3-FT TALL GRASS. THE PILOT STATED THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN AND ROLLED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. AN ENGINE EXAMINATION AND ENGINE RUN DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: 2,071 hours in all; 1,512 in this make and model; 194 in the last 90 days; 86 in the last 30 days; 2,034 as pilot in command; 1,164 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,697 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 21, 1993; 56 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: SIG Islagrande PR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 13 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:57 pm from SJU, 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.