How many accidents has the Robinson R22 had?

The NTSB has recorded 520 events involving the Robinson R22: 112 fatal, 47 serious, 72 minor injuries, and 278 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Robinson R22 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Robinson R22 has 520 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Robinson R22 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 520 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.

520

All Events

278

Incidents

Minor

Serious

112

Fatal (157 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Aug 04, 1990	SCOTTSDALE, AZ	N8044Z	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER AIRCRAFT HANDLING AT A LOW ALTITUDE WHICH RESULTED IN A RATE OF DESCENT THAT COULD NOT BE ARRESTED PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH THE GR… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER AIRCRAFT HANDLING AT A LOW ALTITUDE WHICH RESULTED IN A RATE OF DESCENT THAT COULD NOT BE ARRESTED PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND.
Jul 29, 1990	SHIRLEY, NY	N9030Z	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE STUDENT PILOT.
Jul 27, 1990	PADUCAH, KY	N9017S	Incident	substantial	THE LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR THRUST DUE TO IMPROPER PART INSTALLATION.
Jul 26, 1990	TAHLEQUAH, OK	N20K	Fatal (1)	destroyed	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE.
Jun 23, 1990	PINON HILLS, CA	N84378	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM DURING AN ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
May 30, 1990	TORRANCE, CA	N8557Z	Incident	substantial	THIS ACCIDENT WAS A DYNAMIC ROLL OVER DUE TO THE RIGHT SKID ENCOUNTERING SOFT SOIL DURING THE FORCED LANDING.
May 30, 1990	CORONA, CA	N90787	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, FAILUE TO MAINTAIN CORRECT ROTOR RPM, AND IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
May 26, 1990	PAYSON, AZ	N528EE	Incident	substantial	CONTROL INTERFERENCE WHICH THE CFI ENCOUNTERED DURING LANDING FLARE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE STUDENT NOT UNDERSTANDING COMMUNICATIONS FROM… CONTROL INTERFERENCE WHICH THE CFI ENCOUNTERED DURING LANDING FLARE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE STUDENT NOT UNDERSTANDING COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CFI, THE UNCLEAR LANGUAGE AND THE OPERATOR'S INADEQUATE CERTIFICATION OF THE AIRMAN.
May 23, 1990	GRIFFIN, GA	N8064K	Fatal (1)	destroyed	LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. THE PRESENCE OF TREES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
May 11, 1990	CHAMBLEE, GA	N2579W	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE STUDENT (RATED) PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER, AND INSUFFICIENT SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI).
May 09, 1990	IRVINE, CA	N9070N	Incident	substantial	THE CFI'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM DURING THE PRACTICE AUTOROTATION.
May 08, 1990	MILLVILLE, NJ	N9071Z	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT BY THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI). CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDE… THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT BY THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI). CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF TOTAL TIME AND EXPERIENCE OF BOTH THE STUDENT AND INSTRUCTOR.
Apr 29, 1990	MAMMOTH LAKES, CA	N8560M	Minor	substantial	PILOT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A STRONG DOWNDRAFT WHILE CRUISING AT AN INADEQUATE ALTITUDE. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE HIGH ALTITUDE WHICH LIMITED AVAILABL… PILOT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A STRONG DOWNDRAFT WHILE CRUISING AT AN INADEQUATE ALTITUDE. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE HIGH ALTITUDE WHICH LIMITED AVAILABLE ENGINE POWER FOR RECOVERY.
Apr 22, 1990	PRNC FREDERICK, MD	N2580E	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY NOT SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE OR ASSURING THE HELICOPTER WAS PROPERLY ATTENDED,WHEN HE DEPLANED.
Mar 24, 1990	PHILLIPSBURG, OH	N80450	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO RETAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Mar 16, 1990	PASO ROBLES, CA	N8079Q	Incident	substantial	THE DUAL STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN PROPER ROTOR/ENGINE POWER AND TO RELINQUISH THE THROTTLE CONTROL WHEN THE CFI ATTEMPTED TO REDUCE THE POWER.
Feb 01, 1990	SAN ANGELO, TX	N25318	Incident	substantial	INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT BY NOT IDENTIFYING AND REMOVING THE TIE-DOWN.
Jan 22, 1990	PARLIER, CA	N8013K	Serious (1)	destroyed	THE PILOT'S FLIGHT INTO THE KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER AND HIS INADVERTENT DESCENT TO THE GROUND. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE FOG CONDITION AND SPATI… THE PILOT'S FLIGHT INTO THE KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER AND HIS INADVERTENT DESCENT TO THE GROUND. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE FOG CONDITION AND SPATIAL DISORIENTATION OF THE PILOT.
Jan 21, 1990	RAMONA, CA	N2258R	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A TAILWIND WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, BUT DELAYED THE GO-AROUND. DURING THE GO-AROUND THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND EN… THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A TAILWIND WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, BUT DELAYED THE GO-AROUND. DURING THE GO-AROUND THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND ENTERED A DESCENT (SETTLING WITH POWER).
Oct 26, 1989	SIMI VALLEY, CA	N84817	Minor	substantial	STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER ALTITUDE.
Oct 19, 1989	BETHPAGE, NY	N8024W	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER HANDLING OF THE HELICOPTER DURING A POWER OFF AUTOROTATION RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING AND A MAIN ROTOR BLADE SEVERING THE TAILBO… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER HANDLING OF THE HELICOPTER DURING A POWER OFF AUTOROTATION RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING AND A MAIN ROTOR BLADE SEVERING THE TAILBOOM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A GUSTY WIND AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT AND POWERPLANT CONTROLS IN CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICE.
Sep 27, 1989	SCOTTSDALE, AZ	N9078U	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CFI'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEO… IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CFI'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA, AND THE FENCE.
Sep 14, 1989	HILLSBORO, OR	N358JS	Serious (1)	substantial	THE PILOT MISJUDGING ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED.
Sep 09, 1989	KENT, WA	N8034J	Incident	destroyed	THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S FAILURE TO TAKE TIMELY CORRECTIVE ACTION TO RECOVER FROM A LOW ROTOR RPM CONDITION, RESULTING IN IMPACT WITH THE GROUND.
Aug 17, 1989	MANASSAS, VA	N8557H	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER USE OF THE CYCLIC CONTROL BY THE STUDENT PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO RELINQUISH CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER TO THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI). A CONTRIBUTI… IMPROPER USE OF THE CYCLIC CONTROL BY THE STUDENT PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO RELINQUISH CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER TO THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI). A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE STUDENT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE.

Disclaimer: This data is sourced from the NTSB Aviation Accident Database. NTSB events reflect reported accidents and incidents and do not necessarily indicate a defect in the aircraft type. Many events involve pilot error, weather conditions, maintenance issues, or other factors unrelated to the aircraft design. This information is provided for research purposes only — consult official NTSB reports for complete details.

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Robinson R22 Safety Record

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