Robinson R-22 accident near Faribault, Minnesota, June 21, 1991
On June 21, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N8024W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Faribault, Minnesota (Faribault airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS WAS NOT ATTAINED BY THE PILOT RESULTING IN LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A GUSTY CROSSWIND LANDING ENVIRONMENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Faribault, Minnesota · Faribault · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N8024W · no longer on the register · serial 1047
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT HE WAS EXECUTING A 360 DEGREE TURN WHILE HOVER/TAXIING. THE AIRCRAFT ABRUPTLY WHIPPED AROUND ITS AXIS OF ROTATION, IN THE GUSTY CROSSWIND ENVIRONMENT. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN UNCONTROLLED OSCILLATIONS AND STRUCK THE GROUND WITH A REARWARD MOMENTUM. THE TAIL CONE HIT THE GROUND AND COLLAPSED, CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO HIT THE GROUND REPEATEDLY BEFORE COMING TO A STOP.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,218 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2,077 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 862 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, June 5, 1991; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 2,018 ft by 130 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:45 pm from FBL, 1 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.
Other NTSB records under N8024W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.