Robinson R22 BETA accident near Bend, Oregon, February 7, 1993
On February 7, 1993 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Robinson R22 BETA (helicopter), registered N4085M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bend, Oregon. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ROTOR RPM WAS NOT MAINTAINED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: LOW CEILING AND POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 1993 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Bend, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N4085M · no longer on the register · serial 1864
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT TAKEOFF, THE CEILING WAS 350 FEET AGL AND VISIBILITY WAS TWO MILES. THE FLIGHT TOOK OFF AND HEADED NORTH AT AN ALTITUDE OF 250 FEET AGL, FOLLOWING A HIGHWAY. APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MILES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE CEILING AND VISIBILITY DETERIORATED AND THE PILOT INITIATED A MEDIUM BANK TURN TO THE LEFT. DURING THE TURN, THE AIRSPEED DECLINED AND THE LOW ROTOR RPM HORN SOUNDED. THE PILOT LOWERED THE NOSE AND INCREASED COLLECTIVE. DUE TO THE CLOSENESS OF THE TREES, THE PILOT ESTABLISHED THE BEST RATE OF DESCENT AND 'MILKED' THE RPM FOR A LANDING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO EXECUTE THE PROPER POWER OFF LANDING PROCEDURE AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. THE SKIDS COLLAPSED AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE.
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: 492 hours in all; 433 in this make and model; 131 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 424 as pilot in command; 185 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 970 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 5, 1993; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S21 Sun River OR at 5:00 pm
- Destination: TTD Troutdale OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft; not recorded at 200 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.