Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Point Judith, Rhode Island 02891
Monday, September 23, 1991 21:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT DEPARTED BLOCK ISLAND, RHODE ISLAND, ON A DARK NIGHT AND WAS REPORTED MISSING WHEN HE DID NOT ARRIVE AT FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED, BUT THE PILOT AND HELICOPTER WERE NOT FOUND. THE TAIL SECTION OF THE HELICOPTER WAS RECOVERED BY THE COAST GUARD ON DECEMBER, 8, 1991. THE PILOT HAD APPROXIMATELY 100 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT BECOME DISORIENTED AND LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A DARK NIGHT, FLIGHT OVER WATER, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/23/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2100
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City POINT JUDITH
Event State RHODE ISLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02891
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2266
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46133
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N950CW
NTSB Number NYC91LA254
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Unknown
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROBINSON
Aircraft Model R-22
Aircraft Series Identifier R-22
Aircraft Serial Number 1637
Certified Max Gross Weight 1370
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Unknown
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 21 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 90
Airframe Hours 890
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MEDICOPTER, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 950 FRANKLIN AVE.
Aircraft Owner City GARDEN CITY
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 11530
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name COASTLINE HELICOPTERS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address REPUBLIC AIRPORT, RTE. 109
Operator City FARMINGDALE
Operator State NY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 11735
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BID
Departure City BLOCK ISLAND
Departure State RI
Departure Country
Departure Time 2110
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FRG
Destination City FARMINGDALE
Destination State NY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --