Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near Randle, Washington, March 8, 2012
On March 8, 2012 at about 1:05 am local time, a Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, registered N54BA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Randle, Washington (Randal-Kiona 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 pilot exceeded the helicopter's performance, resulting in low rotor rpm and settling.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 2012 · about 1:05 am local time
- Place
- Randle, Washington · Randal-Kiona · 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
- N54BA · registry record · serial 1888
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) was preparing the flying pilot for his commercial helicopter check flight. They were practicing pinnacle and confined-area landings to a small elevated U.S. Forest Service landing platform located along a 4,750-foot mean sea level (msl) ridgeline. The helicopter performance tables indicated a maximum out-of-ground-effect hover altitude of 6,000 feet msl, based on helicopter weight and environmental conditions. The pilot made a very shallow approach to the landing platform and established a hover. At this time, the engine manifold pressure increased, and the low rotor rpm horn sounded. The helicopter settled onto the landing platform, and the flying pilot said to the CFI that the landing skid on his side was not on the platform. He maneuvered the helicopter forward off the platform and downslope. The low rotor rpm horn stopped sounding, and the helicopter increased its forward speed but did not increase its altitude. The right skid caught some snow, and the helicopter flipped over. The helicopter came to rest facing uphill on its left side with damage to the tailboom and main rotor blades. The CFI stated that the helicopter had no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the flight.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during maneuvering (hover)
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing defining event
- Roll over during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Capability exceeded
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 975 hours in all; 569 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 1, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 158 hours in all; 142 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,640 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 13, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Glacier Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: KN55 Randle WA
- Destination: KN55 Randle WA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 3 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.43 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from KPLU, 37 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N54BA 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.