Robinson R22A accident near Grand Rapids, Michigan, December 20, 1985
On December 20, 1985 at about 1:40 pm local time, a Robinson R22A (helicopter), registered N8488H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Rapids, Michigan. 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
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
- December 20, 1985 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Rapids, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22A · all R22As on the register
- Registration
- N8488H · no longer on the register · serial 0399
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED HE FLEW INTO THE WOLVERINE POWER PLANT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PICKING UP A PASSENGER TO WHOM HE WAS TO DEMONSTRATE THE HELICOPTER'S ABILITY TO SURVEY POWER LINES. HE CONTINUED TO REPORT, SHORTLY AFTER LANDING DURING NORMAL ENGINE SHUT DOWN PROCEDURES THE INTENDED PASSENGER WALKED INTO THE SPINNING TAIL ROTOR. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE PASSENGERPULL THE HOOD ON HIS PARKA OVER HIS HEAD AND WALK TOWARD THE HELICOPTER WITH HIS HEAD DOWN. THE TERRAIN WAS SNOW COVEREDAT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGER FLEW IN THE HELICOPTER WITH THIS SAME PLT ON THE PREVIOUS DAY AND REPORTEDLY WAS BRIEFED ON THE PROPER BOARDING PROCEDURE. THE PLT ALSO STATED HE WARNED THE PASSENGER ABOUT THE TAIL ROTOR.
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: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,180 hours in all; 480 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 6,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 480 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HLM Holland MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 9°F (-13°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:12 pm from GRR, 5 miles away
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.