Loss of control in flight: Robinson R22 Beta, N4082J, accident occurred on May 3, 2024, at Olympia Regional Airport (OLM/KOLM), Olympia, Washington

• Location: Olympia, Washington 
• Accident Number: WPR24LA139 
• Date & Time: May 3, 2024, 16:00 Local 
• Registration: N4082J 
• Aircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA 
• Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
• Defining Event: Loss of control in flight 
• Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 None 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional 

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194211/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194211

On May 3, 2024, about 1600 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter R22, N4082J, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Olympia, Washington. The flight instructor received minor injuries, and the student pilot was uninjured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.

The flight instructor taxied the helicopter from one side of the airport to the other during an instructional flight with a student while the helicopter’s loading was near (about 12 lbs over) its maximum gross weight. As the helicopter approached the intended hover practice area, the instructor began a descending, left pedal turn to align the helicopter into the wind. During the descending turn and while about 10 ft above ground level (agl), the instructor began to add collective to arrest the helicopter’s descent; however, the helicopter continued to descend and impacted the ground with the toe of its right skid, leading to a dynamic rollover.

No evidence of pre-accident mechanical malfunction or failure was revealed during a postaccident examination of the helicopter. Thus, given the helicopter’s high gross weight and left turn during the descent (both of which require more antitorque thrust and reduce the amount of engine power available to produce lift), it is likely that the instructor’s action to raise the collective was delayed, which resulted in an inadequate amount of time and altitude for the increased collective to be able to arrest the helicopter’s descent before impact with the ground.

- Probable Cause: The flight instructor’s delayed action to arrest the descending, left pedal turn while maneuvering for a low-altitude hover with the helicopter near the maximum gross weight limitation, which resulted in an impact with the ground and a dynamic rollover.

Fuel related: Cessna 172P Skyhawk, N781FM, accident occurred on February 22, 2025, near Mayo, Maryland

• Location: Mayo, Maryland 
• Accident Number: ERA25LA127 
• Date & Time: February 22, 2025, 15:45 Local 
• Registration: N781FM 
• Aircraft: Cessna 172 
• Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
• Defining Event: Fuel related 
• Injuries: 1 Minor 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional 

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199758/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199758

On February 22, 2025, at 1545 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P, N781FM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mayo, Maryland. The student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 solo instructional flight.

During a solo cross-country flight, the student pilot initiated a cruise-power descent from about 2,300 ft and about 2300 rpm (about 65% engine power). He reported that, when the airplane was about 1,500 ft, it felt like the engine was “pulled to idle.” He stated that he manipulated the throttle control, but the engine did not respond. He confirmed that the mixture control was set to full rich, the fuel selector was in the Both position, and the primer was locked. He said he then applied carburetor heat, which had “no effect,” then he removed carburetor heat and looked for a place to land the airplane.

The student pilot selected a road for a forced landing, and the airplane’s right wing impacted trees about 10 ft above the surface and the airplane continued striking trees after ground contact. The airplane came to rest upright on its nose against trees on the side of a two-lane road. An odor of fuel was present at the site, but the contents of the fuel tanks could not be established due to the airplane’s position.

Examination of the airframe and engine found no abnormality that would have prevented normal operation. A serviceable propeller was installed, and an engine start was initiated on a test stand. The engine started immediately, then idled, accelerated, and ran smoothly at full power for several minutes without interruption and no anomaly noted. A magneto check was performed with no anomaly noted, and oil indicated pressures were in the normal range. Engine power was reduced to idle, where the engine ran smoothly without interruption. A magneto grounding check was normal, and a slight rpm rise was heard when the mixture was pulled to idle cutoff. The engine was stopped with the mixture placed at the idle cutoff position. A post-run inspection of the engine revealed no leaks and no abnormality.

The atmospheric conditions near the accident site around the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of carburetor icing at glide and cruise power settings. Given the atmospheric conditions and the lack of mechanical anomalies found during postaccident examination and an engine test run, the engine likely lost power due to the accumulation of carburetor icing during the en route descent.

Although the student pilot’s subsequent brief (rather than sustained) application of carburetor heat was inconsistent with the emergency procedures for responding to a loss of engine power, this likely did not affect the outcome of the flight. Given the airplane’s low altitude when the student first perceived the engine power anomaly, it is unlikely that carburetor heat applied in response could have cleared the ice and restored engine power in time to prevent the forced landing.

- Probable Cause: A total loss of engine power at low altitude due to an accumulation of carburetor ice while in a cruise-power descent, which resulted in a forced landing.

Cessna 172M Skyhawk, N61972, accident occurred on April 5, 2026, at Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL/KLAL), Sanford, Florida

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N61972

- History of Flight:
On April 5, 2026, at about 0007 local time, a Cessna 172M Skyhawk, N61972, registered to SMTM Holdings Inc and being operated by Flight Time Building, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident at Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL/KLAL), Sanford, Florida. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The personal flight originated from Orlando Executive Airport (ORL/KORL), Orlando, Florida, at 2227 LT.

The FAA reported: "Aircraft experienced engine issues on departure, attempted to return and landed on the cargo ramp and flipped over." ADS-B data shows that the airplane had conducted 8 touch-and-go(es) on runway 28 and was its ninth landing when it entered a right hand climb and came to rest on the cargo ramp.

Figure 1: ADS-B data

- Weather:

METAR KLAL 060350Z 00000KT 10SM SKC 22/21 A3009

METAR KLAL 060415Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 21/21 A3009 RMK AO2 P0001 T02140214 $

Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage JetPROP DLX, N95AG, accident occurred on April 5, 2026, at Angelina County Airport (LFK/KLFK), Lufkin, Texas

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N95AG

- History of Flight:
On April 5, 2026, at about 1538 local time, a Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage JetPROP DLX, N95AG, sustained substantial damage when it suffered a nose gear collapse upon landing on runway 7 at Angelina County Airport (LFK/KLFK), Lufkin, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight originated from the North Houston Regional Airport (CXO/KCXO), Conroe, Texas, at 1436 LT.

- Weather:

METAR KLFK 051953Z AUTO 35008KT 10SM CLR 20/06 A3025 RMK AO2 SLP239 T02000056 $

METAR KLFK 052053Z AUTO 02010G18KT 10SM CLR 19/04 A3023 RMK AO2 SLP236 T01940044 56014 $

Sonex Aircraft Sonex, N106D, incident occurred on April 4, 2026, near Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport/Shepherd Field (MRB/KMRB), Martinsburg, West Virginia

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N106D,

- History of Flight:
On April 4, 2026, at about 1340 local time, a privately-registered Sonex Aircraft Sonex, N106D, sustained unknown damage following a forced landing in a field while on approach to the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport (MRB/KMRB), Martinsburg, West Virginia. The pilot was not injured. The local flight originated from the airport at 1331 LT.

ADS-B data show that the airplane was climbing through 2,400 ft when it entered a 180 turn and headed back towards to the airport. A witness stated that the airplane was climbing when the engine "died."

- Weather:

METAR KMRB 041653Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 28/15 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP181 T02830150

METAR KMRB 041753Z 17008G14KT 10SM CLR 29/13 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP172 T02890133 10289 20156 58022

Bellanca 7ECA Citabria, N31281, incident occurred on April 4, 2026, at Soldotna Airport (SXQ/PASX), Soldotna, Alaska

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N31281

- History of Flight:
On April 4, 2026, at about 1517 local time, a Bellanca 7ECA Citabria, N31281, registered to Citabria 1972 LLC, sustained unknown damage when it was involved in an incident at Soldotna Airport (SXQ/PASX), Soldotna, Alaska. The pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Kenai Airport (ENA/PAEN), Kenai, Alaska, at 1444 LT.

The FAA reported: "Aircraft on landing and veered off runway into 3-4 feet of snow and flipped over." ADS-B data show that the airplane was landing on runway 7.

- Weather:

METAR PASX 042256Z AUTO VRB06KT 10SM OVC055 03/M08 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP206 T00331078 TSNO

METAR PASX 042356Z AUTO 36005KT 10SM OVC065 04/M07 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP206 T00391072 10039 21022 57001 TSNO

Schweizer SGS 1-36, N3621B, incident occurred on April 4, 2026, near Zephyrhills Municipal Airport (ZPH/KZPH), Zephyrhills, Florida

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N3621B

- History of Flight:
On April 4, 2026, at about 1250 local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-36, N3621B, registered to Tampa Bay Soaring Society Inc, sustained unknown damage when it crash landed in a field shortly after takeoff for unknown reasons near Zephyrhills Municipal Airport (ZPH/KZPH), Zephyrhills, Florida. The pilot was not injured.