No fatalities

ROBINSON R22 BETA accident at West Palm Beach, FL, 26 Jan 2021

West Palm Beach, FL, United States

On January 26, 2021, a ROBINSON R22 BETA operated by Palm Beach Helicopters was involved in an aviation accident near West Palm Beach, FL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The examiner’s failure to arrest the helicopter descent during a simulated engine failure maneuver and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 15 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The examiner’s failure to arrest the helicopter descent during a simulated engine failure maneuver and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Descent rate — Not attained/maintainedDesignated examinerInstructor/check pilot

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 26 Jan 2021 ROBINSON R22 BETA accident near West Palm Beach, FL?

The examiner’s failure to arrest the helicopter descent during a simulated engine failure maneuver and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing.

Were there any fatalities in the 26 Jan 2021 ROBINSON R22 BETA accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 26 Jan 2021 involved a ROBINSON R22 BETA, operated by Palm Beach Helicopters, at West Palm Beach, FL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The examiner’s failure to arrest the helicopter descent during a simulated engine failure maneuver and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing.