Robinson R-22A N8462S
30 June 1989 · Southampton, Massachusetts, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 30 June 1989 at about 15:00 local time, a Robinson R-22A registered N8462S, operated by David S. Robinson, was involved in an accident near Southampton, Massachusetts, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Southampton, Massachusetts, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22A
- Registration
- N8462S
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- David S. Robinson
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Amherst
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC89LA139
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
IMPROPER MAINTENANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A SECTION OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER FAILING INFLIGHT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT SAID HE HEARD A NOISE AND THEN THE NOSE OF THE HELICOPTER YAWED TO THE RIGHT. WITNESSES SAID THEY SAW PIECES FALL FROM THE HELICOPTER AS IT CAME DOWN AND PART OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER WITH THE TAIL SKID WAS FOUND HALF A MILE AWAY. THE PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION AND ATTEMPTED TO KEEP THE SKIDS LEVEL. THE AIRCRAFT WENT DOWN INTO THE TREES, HIT THE GROUND AND ROLLED OVER ON ITS SIDE. AN UNAUTHORIZED REPAIR ON THE VERTICAL STABILIZER FAILED ALLOWING THE PIECE TO HIT THE TAILROTOR AND CAUSED A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R-22A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 May 1986 | Robinson R-22A | East Fishkill, New York, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 3 Apr 1986 | Robinson R-22A | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 May 1985 | Robinson R-22A | McAlester, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 1985 | Robinson R-22A | Piru, California, United States | Watson Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 7 Jul 1985 | Robinson R-22A | Summit Lake, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1985 | Robinson R-22A | Santa Barbara, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 1989 | Piper PA-28-161 | Beverly, Massachusetts, United States | Beverly Flight Center, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Aug 1989 | MBB ME 209 | Chatham, Massachusetts, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Aug 1989 | Cessna 172P | Gardner, Massachusetts, United States | Peter Erik Thomassen | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Sep 1989 | Enstrom F28A | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | TMA Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 1 Sep 1989 | Beechcraft 1900C | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 5 Oct 1989 | Smeesters RV-4 | North Andover, Massachusetts, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |