Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near Chino Valley, Arizona, March 18, 2013
On March 18, 2013, a Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, registered N223G, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Chino Valley, Arizona. 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 receiving instruction’s failure to maintain rotor rpm during the pinnacle landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 2013
- Place
- Chino Valley, Arizona · 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
- N223G · registry record · serial 3211
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During descent for an off-airport pinnacle landing, the helicopter encountered a downdraft about 75 to 100 feet above ground level (agl), and the pilot receiving instruction increased collective input. The flight instructor advised the pilot receiving instruction to be less aggressive using the collective as the flight continued to the landing area. As the helicopter descended through about 10 to 25 feet agl, it encountered a second downdraft, and the pilot receiving instruction increased collective again, which was followed by a decrease in rotor rpm. The flight instructor took control of the helicopter as it contacted the ground and then became airborne again. The helicopter yawed to the right and landed upright on sloping terrain. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that the tailboom was substantially damaged just aft of the fuselage attach point. The pilots reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Other weather encounter during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Hard landing during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Prop/rotor parameters › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,029 hours in all; 687 in this make and model; 166 in the last 90 days; 74 in the last 30 days; 981 as pilot in command; 770 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 19, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 175 hours in all; 145 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 98 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 6, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,899 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 25, 2013; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Guidance Helicopters INC
The flight
- Departed from: PRC Prescott AZ at 11:30 pm
- Destination: PRC Prescott AZ
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point -6°F (-21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from PRC, 13 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 N223G 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.