Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering for landing.
NTSB analysis
During a solo training flight, the student pilot was maneuvering the helicopter while attempting to land and overshot the landing pad. Before returning to the landing pad, the helicopter began to turn to the right and he applied corrective left pedal input, however the right turn continued and accelerated. The pilot believed either the tailrotor failed or there was a loss of tailrotor effectiveness and lowered the collective. The helicopter touched down still turning with a slight nose up pitch and subsequently rolled over onto the left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and main rotor drive system.
A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR14CA256 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jun 20, 2014
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Long Beach, California
- Nearest airport
- Long Beach /Daugherty Field/ (LGB)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA
- N-number
- N681SH
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 2003
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.