Robinson R-22 accident near Nome, Alaska, July 16, 2002
On July 16, 2002 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N7183Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nome, Alaska. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude and clearance in hilly terrain. A factor contributing to the accident was the performance of a low altitude flight maneuver.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2002 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Nome, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N7183Z · no longer on the register · serial 3016
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the helicopter was being used in hilly terrain to herd reindeer. While maneuvering at 20-30 feet above ground level, the pilot turned downwind, and the helicopter started to settle toward the ground. The pilot applied full up collective, and full aft cyclic controls, but was unable to arrest the descent. The helicopter impacted laterally on the side of a hill. During the impact, the main rotor blades severed the tail boom, and the helicopter rolled downhill onto its side.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,700 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 8,650 as pilot in command; 80 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 28, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 552.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 25, 2002; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bering Air INC
The flight
- Departed from: PAOM Nome AK at 12:00 pm
- Destination: Nome AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from PAOM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.