Robinson Helicopter R22 accident near Lindenhurst, New York, January 27, 2016
On January 27, 2016 at about 4:57 pm local time, a 2006 Robinson Helicopter R22, registered N404LE, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Lindenhurst, New York (Republic airport). It was an instructional 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
A rough running engine as a result of an intermittent failure of the left magneto for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in a subsequent autorotation, impact with a sign, and rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 27, 2016 · about 4:57 pm local time
- Place
- Lindenhurst, New York · Republic · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, built 2006 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N404LE · no longer on the register · serial 4040
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight instructor, the helicopter had been airborne for about 2 hours when it began to experience vibrations, which increased in intensity. He stated that the vibrations became “very violent” as he began to reduce engine power and were soon followed by the activation of the low rotor rpm horn and light warning system. The flight instructor performed an autorotation to a street in a residential area. The helicopter touched down and bounced, the main rotor blades struck a sign, and the helicopter rolled over onto its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. A postaccident engine test run revealed that after the engine was started, it operated smoothly at idle and when the rpm was increased; however, when the left magneto was selected, the engine shut down. Both magnetos were removed and functionally checked on a test stand with no malfunctions noted. Subsequent disassembly of the left magneto revealed that the internal magneto timing was off by two teeth, which would have increased the gap between the distributor gear finger and the distributor block’s stationary electrodes; but not precluded the magneto’s ability to function. The flight instructor was using full carburetor heat throughout the accident flight. It is likely that the cumulative effect of carburetor heat, which would have reduced engine rpm, and an intermittent failure of the left magneto for reasons that could not be determined resulted in the engine roughness that preceded the autorotation.
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
What happened, in order
- Autorotation Off-field or emergency landing
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Magneto/distributor › Failure
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,080 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 350 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 1,020 as pilot in command; 350 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 30, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,669 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 24, 2015; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,369 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Academy Of Aviation, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: FRG Farmingdale NY at 2:52 pm
- Destination: FRG Farmingdale NY
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 11 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from FRG, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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 N404LE 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.