Robinson R22B accident near Harborton, Virginia, October 24, 1986
On October 24, 1986 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Robinson R22B (helicopter), registered N24684, was substantially damaged in an accident near Harborton, Virginia. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- October 24, 1986 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Harborton, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22B · all R22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N24684 · no longer on the register · serial 590
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN APCH TO LAND, THE PLT EXPEREINCED A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS AND THE ACFT ROTATED TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRSPEED WAS REPORTED AS 30 MPH WITH A DESCENT RATE OF 150 FPM AND THE ACFT WAS LESS THAN 50 FT AGL. THE ACFT THEN DESCENDED TO A COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN. THE PLT DID NOT REPORT LOWERING THE COLLECTIVE TO RECOVER ROTOR RPM. THE ACFT WAS ON ONE OF SEVERAL FLIGHT LEGS FROM TORRANCE, CA TO PRINCETON, NJ. IT HAD 74 HRS TOTAL TIME.
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, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 22,207 hours in all; 206 in the last 90 days; 22,169 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 74 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Franklin VA at 12:34 pm
- Destination: Harborton VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.