NTSB MIA96TA127 — 1996-04-22 · KISSIMMEE, Florida, United States

Current FAA registration · N8315R

Make / Model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
Year of manufacture: 1994 · 2 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19941013
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S AB5F28

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N8315R Robinson R-22 None

Probable cause & findings

the pilot's improper use of the helicopter's flight controls which led to an inadvertent loss of tail rotor effectiveness during a hover.

Factual narrative

On April 22, 1996, about 1209 eastern daylight time, N8315R, a Robinson R-22, operated by the Osceola County Sheriff's Office as a public-use flight crashed while hovering at the Kissimmee Airport, Kissimmee, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot and observer reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that while at a hover, attempting a pedal turn to the right,he lost tail rotor effectiveness and the helicopter rolled over on its side and crashed. The pilot attempted a pedal turn while at a hover and stated he lost tail rotor effectiveness. The helicopter then spun to the right and rolled over. The pilot stated he had about 66 hours in this make and model helicopter. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1996_MIA96TA127.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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