Robinson R-22 accident near Raynham, Massachusetts, June 15, 1994
On June 15, 1994 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N8029Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Raynham, Massachusetts. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the number four cylinder piston rings.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1994 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Raynham, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N8029Z · registry record · serial 1049
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE HAD A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A RAPID RISE IN THE OIL TEMPERATURE, CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURE, AND MANIFOLD PRESSURE. HE STATED THE RPM'S BEGAN TO DECREASE SO HE INITIATED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT TO LAND. HE STATED ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, TOTAL POWER LOSS OCCURRED AND HE DID AN AUTOROTATION LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THAT DUE TO IRREGULAR TERRAIN AT THE LANDING SITE, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWN AND CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM. THE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE AND THE NUMBER FOUR PISTON RINGS WERE BROKEN.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,500 hours in all; 6,200 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,954 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1993; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: B & A Leasing Corporation
The flight
- Departed from: 3B3 Sterling MA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: PYM Plymouth MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:45 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.