Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near Portland, Oregon, May 2, 2018
On May 2, 2018, a 2004 Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, registered N7526S, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Portland, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A hard landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 2018
- Place
- Portland, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA BETA, built 2004 · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N7526S · no longer on the register · serial 3584
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was conducting a visual flight rules personal flight in visual meteorological conditions. After cancelling flight following services with air traffic control, the helicopter impacted an open field under unknown circumstances. The pilot did not provide a statement regarding the events of the accident, and there were no witnesses. Postaccident airframe and engine examinations revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The upright orientation of the wreckage and impact damage to the fuselage and main rotor blades were consistent with a hard landing; however, the circumstances surrounding the accident and the reason for the hard landing could not be determined based on available evidence.
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
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 234 hours in all; 177 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 158 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,433.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 13, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 1,369 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 86,619 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UAO Aurora OR at 11:39 pm
- Destination: HIO Portland OR
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KHIO, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 11, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | radar Video | video | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N7526S 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.