Robinson R-22B accident near Boise, Idaho, August 11, 2006
On August 11, 2006 at about 2:55 pm local time, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N228SH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boise, Idaho (Boise Air Terminal airport). 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 instructor pilot's inadvertent excessive descent rate, and his delay of remedial action during the demonstration of a 180 degree autorotation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2006 · about 2:55 pm local time
- Place
- Boise, Idaho · Boise Air Terminal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B · all R-22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N228SH · registry record · serial 4014
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While demonstrating a 180 degree autorotation to landing, the instructor pilot inadvertently allowed the helicopter to attain an excessive rate of descent. Although he added power and initiated a go-around, he had waited too long to begin the go-around, and he was unable to keep the helicopter from impacting the end of the runway and bouncing back into the air. After hover-taxiing to parking, the instructor inspected the helicopter, whereupon it was determined it had sustained substantial damage.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 440 hours in all; 330 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Silver State Helicopter LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KBOI Boise Air Termi ID
- Destination: KBOI Boise ID
- Runway 28
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.