Robinson Helicopter Company R22 accident near Prescott, Arizona, March 20, 2009
On March 20, 2009 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R22, registered N90764, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Prescott, Arizona. It was a business 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 pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm while maneuvering at a low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 2009 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Prescott, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R22
- Registration
- N90764 · no longer on the register · serial 0267
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was circling over a residential structure to allow his passenger to take photographs. He descended to 50 feet above ground level and slowed to about 40 to 50 knots indicated airspeed. The pilot said that near the completion of the second circle, he "felt and heard something," then observed the engine rpm and rotor rpm decaying along with the activation of the low rotor rpm horn and warning light. The pilot stated that "it may have been that what I felt and heard was a reaction to the downwind heading." The pilot lowered the collective and added power; however, due to his low operating altitude, the corrections did not have time to take effect before the helicopter impacted the terrain. The pilot reported the wind from 210 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 15 knots. The closest airport reported wind from 180 degrees at 7 knots, variable from 150 to 210 degrees. Robinson Safety Notice SN-34, "PHOTO FLIGHTS – VERY HIGH RISK," states, in part: "While maneuvering, the pilot may lose track of airspeed and wind conditions. The helicopter can rapidly lose translational lift and begin to settle." A postaccident engine run was conducted and the engine ran normally with no mechanical problems.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of lift during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Prop/rotor parameters › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,050 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 9,000 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 24, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Airfotos LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KPRC Prescott AZ at 10:40 pm
- Destination: KPRC Prescott AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from PRC, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N90764 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.