Robinson R-22-A accident near Scottsdale, Arizona, March 16, 1987
On March 16, 1987 at about 6:17 pm local time, a Robinson R-22-A (helicopter), registered N2256M, was destroyed in an accident near Scottsdale, Arizona (Scottsdale airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 1987 · about 6:17 pm local time
- Place
- Scottsdale, Arizona · Scottsdale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22-A · all R-22-As on the register
- Registration
- N2256M · no longer on the register · serial 0498
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER STOP & APPEAR TO FLY BACKWARDS ON DOWNWIND BEFORE IT FELL TO THE GROUND IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. THEY ALSO NOTED THAT PORTIONS OF THE HELICOPTER'S TAIL SECTION SEPARATED AS IT FELL TO THE GROUND. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED EVIDENCE OF A MAIN ROTOR STRIKE ON THE TAILBOOM OF THE HELICOPTER. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.
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: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 180 hours in all; 180 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 115 as pilot in command; 4 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 202 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 21, 1986; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDL at 5:47 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 8,250 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:20 pm from SDL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.