Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near Marsing, Idaho, October 31, 2009
On October 31, 2009 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, registered N74607, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Marsing, Idaho. 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 pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm during the approach and subsequent go-around and the certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 2009 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Marsing, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N74607 · no longer on the register · serial 3949
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that, during a flight review, the pilot being reviewed was performing a pinnacle approach to landing at a selected site between 3,500 feet to 4,000 feet mean sea level. During the approach the helicopter was descending at a rate of about 400 feet per minute and a forward speed of 30 knots. The pilot stated that the helicopter was passing through translational lift and that it seemed like it was taking more power. The flight instructor called for a go-around due to the indicated airspeed and the high sink rate. The instructor stated, “Upon initiating the go-around we experienced lack of power, decreased rotor rpm, and an increased sink rate.” Both occupants reported that they pulled their collectives up to cushion the landing; however, the touchdown was hard. The helicopter tipped forward onto its nose and rolled onto its left side. The landing skids were spread and bent, the main rotor blades remained attached, but were bent, and the tail boom was bent. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter prior to the accident.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Miscellaneous/other during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Prop/rotor parameters › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 878 hours in all; 662 in this make and model; 158 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 816 as pilot in command; 613 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 10, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 13,000 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,176 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 23, 2009; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Silverhawk Aviation Academy LLC
The flight
- Departed from: EUL Caldwell ID at 7:30 pm
- Destination: EUL Caldwell ID
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,000 ft; a few clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from EUL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.