Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near Long Beach, California, November 25, 2009
On November 25, 2009 at about 5:25 pm local time, a Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, registered N505LA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Long Beach, California (Long Beach airport). 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 flight instructor's failure to arrest the helicopter's descent and to maintain lateral control during a hovering autorotation practice.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 25, 2009 · about 5:25 pm local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Long Beach · 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
- N505LA · no longer on the register · serial 3397
- 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 he had successfully completed the demonstration of several flight maneuvers for the student pilot. He configured the helicopter for a hovering autorotation, closed the throttle, and the helicopter subsequently descended in a left skid low attitude. The left skid of the helicopter struck the ground, and the instructor attempted to apply corrective control inputs. The helicopter then rolled onto its left side, causing substantial damage to the fuselage and the main rotor system. The flight instructor reported that the helicopter and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions prior to the accident. He further stated that the accident could have been prevented if he applied right cyclic, and right yaw pedal control during the descent, and cushioned the landing by raising the collective control.
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
- Simulated/training event during landing
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Dynamic rollover during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 661 hours in all; 501 in this make and model; 69 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command; 89 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 18, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 2 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 0 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGB Long Beach CA
- Destination: LGB Long Beach CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 30 ft by 30 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from LGB
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.