On 24 Sep 2011, a ROBINSON R22 Beta BETA operated by James P Hoeffler was involved in an aviation accident near Douglas, WY. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot failed to maintain proper yaw control of the helicopter while conducting a hover taxi during gusty wind conditions. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A Robinson R22 Beta helicopter struck the pavement during a hover taxi following a sudden wind gust.
What happened
On September 24, 2011, a Robinson R22 Beta, registration N3070S, was performing a hover taxi downwind in Douglas, Wyoming. During the maneuver, a gust of wind caused the tail of the aircraft to rotate 90 degrees to the left. This sudden movement forced the helicopter to descend into the pavement. There were no injuries resulting from the incident.
The investigation
Upon inspection of the aircraft, the pilot reported that the front and rear crossover tubes connecting the left and right landing skid assemblies were bent. Additionally, the tail cone exhibited wrinkling at the points where it attaches to the fuselage.
Probable cause
The pilot failed to maintain proper yaw control of the helicopter while conducting a hover taxi during gusty wind conditions.
Contributing factors
Causes
PilotYaw control — Not attained/maintained
Other contributing factors
Contributed to outcome
Related events
Same aircraft family
20 Apr 2026 — ROBINSON R22
6 Feb 2026 — ROBINSON R22
2 Dec 2025 — ROBINSON R22
14 Oct 2025 — ROBINSON R22 BETA (ESCOLA DE AVIAÇÃO CIVIL ASAS ROTATIVAS LTDAb)