Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Southampton, Massachusetts 01073
Friday, June 30, 1989 11:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER MAINTENANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A SECTION OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER FAILING INFLIGHT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/30/1989
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SOUTHAMPTON
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01073
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 6
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1289
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 30 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1110
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39585
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8462S
NTSB Number NYC89LA139
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROBINSON
Aircraft Model R-22A
Aircraft Series Identifier R-22A
Aircraft Serial Number 379
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID ROBINSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address WEST SHORE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City SUNAPEE
Aircraft Owner State NH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 03782
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DAVID S. ROBINSON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address WEST SHORE ROAD, BOX 344
Operator City SUNAPEE
Operator State NH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 03782
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City AMHERST
Destination State MA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --