Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near Murrieta, California, July 9, 2012
On July 9, 2012 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, registered N7527Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Murrieta, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from high vegetation while making a hovering turn, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 2012 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Murrieta, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N7527Y · no longer on the register · serial 3593
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an instructional flight, the student pilot reported that the instructor was demonstrating a “fast landing” approach to a hill. The instructor subsequently positioned the helicopter in a 3- to 4-foot hover above the ground and heading into the wind, then initiated a left pedal turn and started to lift off. The student stated that the helicopter suddenly rolled rapidly to the right and the main rotor blades contacted the ground, which resulted in a rollover. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The terrain surrounding the accident site was covered with sporadic patches of sagebrush ranging from 1 to 4 feet high. It is likely that the helicopter contacted brush as the pilot performed the left hovering turn, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
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
- Dynamic rollover during maneuvering (hover) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Effect on operation
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,625 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Dual student
- Certificate: private, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 80 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,267 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 11, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: USA Academy Of Aviation, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: F70 Murrieta CA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: F70 Murrieta CA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from RIV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 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.