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
Jun 24, 1993	SANFORD, ME	N8557Y	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the helicopter while hovering, resulting in the main rotor blades impacting the ground.
Apr 14, 1993	RONKONKOMA, NY	N344WA	Incident	substantial	THE LACK OF ADEQUATE SUPERVISION AND DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DELAY IN ADDING POWER… THE LACK OF ADEQUATE SUPERVISION AND DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DELAY IN ADDING POWER BY THE STUDENT PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN A LOW ROTOR RPM CONDITION.
Jan 23, 1993	PALOMAR MTN, CA	N2335Q	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S INITIAL FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM DURING THE GO AROUND AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND FAILURE TO… THE STUDENT PILOT'S INITIAL FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM DURING THE GO AROUND AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGHT.
Oct 15, 1992	ROBERT LEE, TX	N8066B	Incident	substantial	THE LOSS OF ENGINE/ROTOR RPM FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Sep 14, 1992	OJAI, CA	N4079S	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE MAIN ROTOR RPM TO CUSHION THE LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERM… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE MAIN ROTOR RPM TO CUSHION THE LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE EXISTING HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Jul 25, 1992	SANFORD, ME	N8557Y	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN TO EXECUTE A LANDING.
May 17, 1992	FORT LAUDERDALE, FL	N4026Q	Incident	substantial	DELAY BY THE CFI TO TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE STUDENTS PREMATURE FLARE.
Apr 05, 1992	PALM SPRINGS, CA	N40433	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER CRUISE ALTITUDE UPON ENTERING A MOUNTAIN PASS AREA, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. FA… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER CRUISE ALTITUDE UPON ENTERING A MOUNTAIN PASS AREA, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL WERE RELATED TO HIS ENCOUNTERING TURBULENCE AND DOWNDRAFTS.
Apr 03, 1992	SIMI VALLEY, CA	N504RS	Incident	substantial	THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S DELAYED FLARE FROM THE AUTOROTATION LANDING. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE SOFT NATURE OF THE TERRAIN.
Jan 11, 1992	LAKE HUGHES, CA	N2634N	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM WHILE MANEUVERING AND HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF THE LANDING FLARE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S … THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM WHILE MANEUVERING AND HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF THE LANDING FLARE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Oct 30, 1991	MILLVILLE, NJ	N502TH	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS.
Oct 04, 1991	HONOLULU, HI	N900AB	Incident	substantial	THE IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ND THE FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ROTOR RPM.
Sep 20, 1991	WEXFORD, PA	N2289K	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PROCEDURES DURING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION, AND SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A LOSS OF ENGIN… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PROCEDURES DURING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION, AND SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, AT A LOW ALTITUDE.
Aug 13, 1991	CHANDLER, AZ	N4037A	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND STOP A DESCENT, WHILE MANEUVERING. THE PILOT'S DISORIENTATION WAS … THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND STOP A DESCENT, WHILE MANEUVERING. THE PILOT'S DISORIENTATION WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Aug 01, 1991	WYLIE, TX	N23TV	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE WITH THE WATER. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S OSTENTATIOUS DISPLAY.
Jun 05, 1991	MINERAL, IL	N91MG	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE POWER LINE.
May 12, 1991	GROVELAND, MA	N2603H	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WINDS.
Apr 06, 1991	KENT, WA	N24176	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION TO CORRECT THE IMMINENT DYNAMIC ROLLOVER. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH AN… THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION TO CORRECT THE IMMINENT DYNAMIC ROLLOVER. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH AND LACK OF TOTOAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
Apr 03, 1991	CAMARILLO, CA	N9068T	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND APPLY PROPER REMEDIAL ACTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPR… THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND APPLY PROPER REMEDIAL ACTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPER SELECTION OF THE TOUCHDOWN POINT AND THE DISREGARDING OF COMPANY PROCEDURES.
Feb 10, 1991	PIRU, CA	N8491A	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE CFI TO MAINTAIN MAIN ROTOR RPM DURING A DEMONSTRATED AUTOROTATION.
Jan 09, 1991	SCOTTSDALE, AZ	N8005E	Incident	substantial	THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S DELAY IN EXECUTING A RECOVERY FLARE FROM THE AUTOROTATIVE DESCENT, AND THE HELICOPTER'S INADEQUATE ALTITUDE DURING FLARE. A CO… THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S DELAY IN EXECUTING A RECOVERY FLARE FROM THE AUTOROTATIVE DESCENT, AND THE HELICOPTER'S INADEQUATE ALTITUDE DURING FLARE. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS RELATED TO THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT BEING INATTENTIVE TO HIS STUDENT'S PERFORMANCE.
Dec 15, 1990	WEST KINGSTON, RI	N9073S	Incident	destroyed	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE MALFUNCTION OF THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY.
Oct 14, 1990	WOONSOCKET, RI	N666U	Incident	substantial	PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE ABOVE THE TERRAIN TO AVOID GETTING THE RIGHT SKID CAUGHT IN THE GRASS, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL.
Oct 03, 1990	OPA LOCKA, FL	N224SW	Incident	substantial	FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT.
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.

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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