Robinson R-22 accident near Scappoose, Oregon, October 22, 1998
On October 22, 1998 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N474BC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Scappoose, Oregon (Scappoose Industrial airport). It was an instructional 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
Aircraft control was not maintained. Inadequate remedial action is a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 22, 1998 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Scappoose, Oregon · Scappoose Industrial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N474BC · registry record · serial 1917M
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that during his first solo flight, he was turning final to line up with the taxiway next to the runway, when he saw a Cessna aircraft on left base for the runway. The student was positioned about mid-field, over the taxiway, when he heard the Cessna report final approach. The student stated that he was worried about the Cessna and made a left 220 degree turn to check for the Cessna's position. The student stated that he applied too much left pedal and the helicopter turned 360 degrees. The student then tried to make a right 150 degree turn, however, he applied too much right pedal and the helicopter started to spin. The student stated that his altitude was about five feet above the ground and he tried to gain altitude by increasing the collective. The helicopter continued to spin, about five or six times, before it touched down and rolled over.
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: student
- Flight time: 37 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,409 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 30, 1998; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hillsboro Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from 1S4
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.