Robinson R-22 Beta accident near Doylestown, Pennsylvania, October 29, 2005
On October 29, 2005 at about 4:11 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 Beta (helicopter), registered N8176B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Doylestown, Pennsylvania (Doylestown Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's inadequate remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 2005 · about 4:11 pm local time
- Place
- Doylestown, Pennsylvania · Doylestown Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 Beta · all R-22 Betas on the register
- Registration
- N8176B · no longer on the register · serial 2406
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and the student pilot were practicing hovering autorotations from about 3 feet above the ground. The student pilot "cut the throttle," and the helicopter descended. The flight instructor could not recall whether he or the student pilot was moving the collective pitch control. The helicopter subsequently impacted the ground "hard," and "started into a dynamic rollover." The flight instructor stated the helicopter's performance at the time of the accident was "fine," and an inspection of the helicopter by an FAA inspector revealed no mechanical abnormalities.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,500 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 145 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: July 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 8 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DYL Doylestown PA
- Destination: DYL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 350° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from DYL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
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.