Robinson R22 accident near Glennallen, Alaska, June 2, 1999
On June 2, 1999 at about 2:00 am local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N1929T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glennallen, 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 pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM during takeoff. Factors associated with the accident were a downdraft, and uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1999 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Glennallen, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N1929T · no longer on the register · serial 1929M
- 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 certificated commercial helicopter pilot reported that during a northerly departure from atop a 4,200 feet msl mountain, the rotor rpm dropped, and the low rotor warning horn sounded. He said that in an attempt to regain rotor rpm and arrest the decent, he rolled the throttle to the high position, increased collective pitch, and lowered the nose to gain airspeed. He said that the rotor rpm continued to decay, the helicopter impacted uneven terrain, and rolled over. The pilot stated: 'I just got into a downdraft on takeoff.' He added that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the rotor system, and fuselage.
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: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,373 hours in all; 1,806 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,811 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1999
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3Z5 AK at 12:30 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.