Robinson R-22 accident near Mcalester, Oklahoma, February 8, 1986
On February 8, 1986 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N8557K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mcalester, Oklahoma. 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
- February 8, 1986 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mcalester, Oklahoma
- 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
- N8557K · no longer on the register · serial 0461
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS HEARDING CATTLE WITH THE HELICOPTER WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE WAS TRAVELING SLOW AND PARALLEL WITH A BARBED WIRE FENCE. HE HAD TO TURN TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID A TREE WHICH WAS DIRECTLY AHEAD OF THE ACFT. UPON MAKING THE TURN HE CAUGHT THE TAIL ROTOR IN THE FENCE AND TORE THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY OFF THE TAIL BOOM. THE HELICOPTER THEN WENT INTO A SPIN. THE PLT CLOSED THE THROTTLE AND LANDED THE HELICOPTER. THE TOUCHDOWN WAS HARD ENOUGH THAT THE FUSELAGE WAS SLIGHTLY WARPED DURING THE IMPACT.
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: 2,360 hours in all; 860 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 644 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 13, 1985; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.