Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near Gila Bend, AZ
On April 15, 2022, a Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Gila Bend, AZ. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- April 15, 2022
- Place
- Gila Bend, AZ
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 32.950°N, 112.650°W
- NTSB ID
- 20220415104949
Official records · ANC22FA030
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn April 15, 2022, about 0837 mountain standard time, a Robinson R22 helicopter, N7516G, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Gila Bend, Arizona. The student pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight initiated at the Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD), Chandler, Arizona at about 0757. The flight was intended to be a solo cross-country flight to the Gila Bend Municipal Airport (E63), Gila Bend, Arizona. A witness located about 1/2 mile west of the accident site reported that the helicopter “came directly down.” He stated that before the impact the rotor blades on the helicopter were rotating; however, he was unable to hear the engine of the helicopter because he was operating heavy equipment. The helicopter impacted the terrain about 212 ft from the end of the runway, slid, and came to rest about 181 ft from the approach end of runway 22 at E63, and 52 ft left of runway centerline. The ground scars indicated the helicopter impacted on about a 180° heading and continued to travel on about a 210° heading before coming to rest on its right side with the nose of the helicopter heading about 096°. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONThe helicopter sustained upward crushing on the underside of the fuselage and the engine compartment, the landing gear skids were displaced in multiple pieces, and all major components of the helicopter were located at the scene. A postaccident examination revealed that the braided shielding around the governor mot
Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain control during the landing approach.
More accidents in AZ
- De Havilland DHC-6-300, Sep 27, 1989
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- Cessna 421C, Sep 2, 1995
Browse: Arizona · Robinson aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
