Robinson R22 BETA N7516G
15 April 2022 · Gila Bend, Arizona, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 15 April 2022 at about 15:37 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N7516G, operated by Quantum Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Gila Bend, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:37
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Gila Bend, Arizona, United States
- Nearest airport
- Gila Bend Municipal Airport (E63)
- Coordinates
- 32.9502, -112.6503
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA
- Registration
- N7516G
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 2003
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Quantum Helicopters
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Chandler → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC22FA030
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain control during the landing approach.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The solo student pilot was conducting a cross-country flight when it impacted the terrain 212 ft before the approach end of the runway at the destination airport. The helicopter then slid about 30 ft and came to rest on its right side. A witness located about 1/2 mile west of the accident site reported seeing the helicopter go down and stated that the rotor blades were rotating before the impact. Postaccident airframe and engine examinations revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Given the upright orientation of the wreckage at impact, the significant damage to the underside of the fuselage, engine and skids, damage to the main rotor blades, coupled with the witness statement, were all consistent with a loss of control and a subsequent uncontrolled descent that resulted in the collision with terrain.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R22 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar 2022 | Robinson R22 | Fallston, Maryland, United States | Fly For Fun Aircraft LLC | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Feb 2022 | Robinson R22 | Canals, Argentina | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 2022 | Robinson R22 MARINER | Hollywood, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 Aug 2022 | Robinson R22 | Lotus Vale, Australia | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Nov 2022 | Robinson R22 | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | Hawaii Pacific Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 26 Sep 2022 | Robinson R22 BETA | Mesa, Arizona, United States | Sanbarcollbuscom, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Apr 2022 | Eurocopter AS 350 B3 | Deer Valley, Arizona, United States | Air Methods Corp | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Oct 2022 | Beechcraft V35B | Nogales, Arizona, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Dec 2022 | Cessna TP206A | Maricopa, Arizona, United States | Skydive Coolidge Inc | No injuries | - |
| 15 Oct 2022 | Mooney M20E | Marble Canyon, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Dec 2022 | Auto-Gyro CAVALON | Benson, Arizona, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Jun 2022 | Beechcraft E35 | Buckeye, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |