Robinson R-22B accident near Marysville, Washington, October 7, 1993
On October 7, 1993 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N8072V, was destroyed in an accident near Marysville, Washington. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 1993 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Marysville, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B · all R-22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8072V · no longer on the register · serial 1313
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE RECENTLY CERTIFICATED FIXED WING, SINGLE ENGINE LAND PRIVATE PILOT WAS ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT IN A ROBINSON R-22B HELICOPTER BUILDING TIME TOWARDS HIS ROTORCRAFT RATING. HE INTENDED TO PRACTICE 'QUICK STOP' MANUEVERS DURING THIS SOLO FLIGHT. DURING THE FIRST MANEUVER HE ALLOWED THE HELICOPTER TO DESCEND AND THE TAIL BOOM/ROTOR ASSEMBLY CONTACTED THE TERRAIN RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 139 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 45 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,535 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 20, 1993; 64 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: PAE Everett WA at 9:30 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from PAE, 8 miles away
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.
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.