Robinson R22HP accident near Mekoryuk, Alaska, June 17, 1988
On June 17, 1988, a Robinson R22HP (helicopter), registered N9076D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mekoryuk, Alaska. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 1988
- Place
- Mekoryuk, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22HP · all R22HPs on the register
- Registration
- N9076D · no longer on the register · serial 0255
- 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-IN-COMMAND WAS HERDING REINDEER FOR A NATIVE CORPORATION AND HE AND HIS PASSENGER HAD TO RELIEVE THEMSELVES SO THEY LANDED ON THE TUNDRA AND LEFT THE HELICOPTER'S ENGINE AND ROTORS OPERATING. AS THEY WERE EXITING THE HELICOPTER, IT SHIFTED ON THE TUNDRA AND THE TAILBOOM WAS FORCED UPWARD INTO THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TAILBOOM, TAILROTOR, AND MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM.
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; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 6,500 as pilot in command; 50 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,348 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 150 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Nunivak Island AK
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.