Robinson R22 accident near Bethalto, Illinois, August 27, 1993
On August 27, 1993 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N9071S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bethalto, Illinois (Saint Louis Regional airport). It was a personal 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 pilot-in-command's not maintaining rotor RPM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 1993 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Bethalto, Illinois · Saint Louis Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N9071S · no longer on the register · serial 0195
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. HE REPORTED THAT ROTOR RPM DROPPED AND HE CONDUCTED AN AUTOROTATIONAL LANDING INTO A CROP FIELD ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER AFTER THE ACCIDENT FAILED TO REVEAL ANY PRE-EXISTING ANOMALIES.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,080 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 1,235 as pilot in command; 388 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,792 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 30, 1993; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,386 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ALN at 10:15 pm
- Destination: ALN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 250 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:18 pm from ALN
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.