Robinson R-22B accident near East North Port, New York, July 1, 2000
On July 1, 2000 at about 8:02 pm local time, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N94RP, was substantially damaged in an accident near East North Port, New York. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate rotor RPM and failure to follow published recovery procedures after the low rotor RPM warning horn and caution light activated.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2000 · about 8:02 pm local time
- Place
- East North Port, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B · all R-22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N94RP · registry record · serial 2422
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an aerial photography flight, the helicopter made three circles around some property, and then proceeded to the south. At this point, the passenger looked out the windshield and noticed that they were just above the treetops, about 100-250 above ground level, with a very slow forward airspeed. The helicopter then began to shake and began a high descent rate to the ground. During the descent, the passenger saw the pilot making a lot of control movements, and noted that the low rotor RPM warning horn and light stayed on from the time the helicopter started shaking all the way to the ground. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the collective was found in the full up position, the rotor blades were bent up, and tree limbs were strewn around the accident site. The pilot operating handbook stated that when the low rotor RPM warning horn and caution light are activated, rotor RPM is below safe limits, and the pilot should immediately roll on throttle, lower collective, and in forward flight apply aft cyclic. Examination of the helicopter revealed there were no mechanical malfunctions.
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
- LOSS OF CONTROL - IN FLIGHT during maneuvering
- IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN/WATER during descent - uncontrolled
Pilot
- Ratings: none, none, none, helicopter
- Flight time: 174 hours in all; 158 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 114 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 2
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 401 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, July 15, 1999; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: FRG Farmingdale NY at 7:45 pm
- Destination: ISP Islip NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°C, dew point 61°C
- Altimeter: 30 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from FRG, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number IAD00LA054.