Robinson R-22 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, April 1, 1999
On April 1, 1999 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N8367F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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 failure of the pilot to maintain rotor rpm during a downwind turn. A factor in the accident was the inadequate altitude to recover from the loss of rotor rpm.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 1999 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N8367F · no longer on the register · serial 2816
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter pilot turned downwind at 30 feet above the ground. The winds were between 15 knots and 30 knots. The main rotor rpm decayed, and the pilot was unable to regain rpm by lowering the collective, disengaging the engine speed governor, and increasing the throttle. During the ensuing forced landing, the helicopter bounced and rolled onto its side. The pilot stated that he did not have tail rotor authority at the low rotor rpm when the helicopter bounced. The engine was operated on a test stand, and exceeded the minimum power requirements for a serviceable engine. No anomalies were noted with the engine, governor, or governor controller.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,900 hours in all; 1,550 in this make and model; 175 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command; 29 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 654 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 24, 1999; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HO-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Chena River Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: AK28 AK at 1:30 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.