Robinson R22 BETA accident near Griffin, Georgia, May 23, 1990
On May 23, 1990 at about 11:55 pm local time, a Robinson R22 BETA (helicopter), registered N8064K, was destroyed in an accident near Griffin, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. THE PRESENCE OF TREES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1990 · about 11:55 pm local time
- Place
- Griffin, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N8064K · no longer on the register · serial 1257
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER ABOUT TEN MINUTES OF FLIGHT, THE LOW ROTOR RPM LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REACH A CLEAR AREA FOR LANDING, BUT THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A TREE & THEN THE GROUND. WITNESSES AT THE SCENE REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOST POWER INFLIGHT; HOWEVER, NO REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE REPORTED LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT HAD LOGGED ABOUT 4298 HOURS OF FLYING TIME, BUT HE ONLY HAD ABOUT 98 HOURS IN HELICOPTERS. HE HAD RECEIVED HIS HELICOPTER RATING ONLY EIGHT DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,298 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 97 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 4,083 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 89 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 89 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Management Counsel, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 4A7 Hampton GA at 11:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 340° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from ATL, 23 miles away
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.