Robinson R-22B accident near Plant City, Florida, June 11, 2007
On June 11, 2007 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N7185K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plant City, Florida (Plant City Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Factors in the accident were variable wind conditions, and soft/uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2007 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Plant City, Florida · Plant City Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B · all R-22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7185K · no longer on the register · serial 2981
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident flight, in a Robinson R-22B helicopter, was the student pilot's second solo flight. According to the pilot, PCM was only "about five minutes" flying time from LAL, and that the only weather information he obtained was from the LAL ATIS. As he approached the PCM runway 28 threshold, he pulled up on the collective to stop the forward travel. At the same time, he pushed on the left pedal, but the helicopter began to rotate to the right. He then applied full left pedal, but was unsuccessful at stopping the rotation. After approximately six to seven revolutions, the pilot executed an autorotation. The helicopter "landed softly" but continued to rotate. The right skid caught in the dirt, and the helicopter rolled onto its right side. The pilot stated that just after he exited the helicopter, the wind increased and a heavy rain began. The 1325 PCM weather observation recorded the wind from 280 degrees at 6 knots, with gusts to 14 knots, and the 1345 observation recorded the wind from 290 degrees at 7 knots, with no gusts. The pilot reported he did not experience any preimpact failures or malfunctions with the helicopter.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 31 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAL Lakeland FL at 5:15 pm
- Destination: PCM Plant City FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,950 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,700 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 5:25 pm from PCM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N7185K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.