Overall Trends
Total, fatal, and serious accidents in the selected range.
Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.
Fast key and full-text search with live filters, watches, and precise metadata.
Use quotes for exact phrase matches (for example "fuel selector valve").
Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.
Major cases, deep-report coverage, and investigation media across decades of NTSB history.
Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.
NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.
The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.
The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.
Hillsboro, OR
THE DUAL STUDENT PILOT AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WERE PRACTICING HOVER AUTOROTATIONS ONTO THE GRASS. IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER WAS LOST WHILE THE DUAL STUDENT WAS RECEIVING INSTRUCTION ON AUTOROTATING TO LANDING FROM A HOVER ABOUT TWO FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. BOTH THE STUDENT AND INSTRUCTOR WERE ON THE CONTROLS AT THE TIME. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT, AND THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR USED FULL RIGHT CYCLIC TO CORRECT FOR THE DRIFT. THE HELICOPTER'S LEFT LANDING SKID STRUCK THE GROUND 'HARD' AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE WIND WAS BLOWING FROM THE SOUTH AT 15 KNOTS.
THE DUAL STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER DURING THE PRACTICE HOVER AUTOROTATION TO LANDING, AND THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE THE DUAL STUDENT DURING THE LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN UNFAVORABLE WIND.
On March 12, 1995, about 0945 Pacific standard time, N721HH, a Robinson R-22 helicopter, operated by Hillsboro Helicopters, Inc., Hillsboro, Oregon, impacted terrain and rolled over while landing in Hillsboro. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to the CFI, the purpose of the flight was to practice hover autorotations. Immediately prior to the accident, both the CFI and pre-solo student pilot were at the controls. The helicopter was "... into the wind [approximately] 18 - 24 inches above grass on level ground." The CFI further stated: Closed throttle to perform hover auto. Aircraft began to settle and drift left. Full right cyclic was applied as aircraft contacted ground hard with left skid. Collective was lowered and aircraft's momentum seemed to stop. [The helicopter] paused for a second and then continued over on left side. According to an FAA aviation safety inspector from Hillsboro, Oregon, the helicopter rolled over onto its left side, causing substantial damage. No pre-impact mechanical malfunctions were reported. The wind conditions at the airport about five minutes after the accident were reported to be from 180 degrees at 15 knots.