We use previously determined potential energy surfaces for the Renner-coupled (XB1)-B-2 and A(2)A(1) electronic states of the phosphino (PH2) free radical in a calculation of the energies and wavefunctions of highly excited rotational and vibrational energy levels of the X state. We show how spin-orbit coupling, the Renner effect, rotational excitation, and vibrational excitation affect the clustered energy level patterns that occur. We consider both 4-fold rotational energy level clustering caused by centrifugal distortion, and vibrational energy level pairing caused by local mode behaviour. We also calculate ab initio dipole moment surfaces for the X and A states, and the X - A transition moment surface, in order to obtain spectral intensities. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.