Robinson R-22 accident near Sunny Isles, Florida, October 17, 1999
On October 17, 1999 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N83574, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sunny Isles, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power while maneuvering due to improper ignition timing by unknown person(s) resulting in an emergency descent and collision with the water.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 17, 1999 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sunny Isles, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N83574 · no longer on the register · serial 0301
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After about 1 hour of flight at about 200 feet offshore, the helicopter was observed to descend from about 500 feet agl, to about 200 feet agl, and head directly toward the beach. Once overhead the beach, the pilot stated the cylinder head and oil temperature indications started rising rapidly, and he looked for a place to autorotate. Finding no suitable area due to the density of bathers and losing power, the pilot elected to ditch offshore in about 8 feet of water. Post crash test run of the engine revealed normal operation except that the magneto timing had been adjusted as far advanced as possible. Factory post crash analysis of the main rotor clutch and shaft revealed the clutch had sustained two severe overtorque events, most likely as a result of two or more main rotor blade strikes during the accident.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 276 hours in all; 198 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 199 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,996 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 22, 1999; 80 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: FXE Ft. Lauderdale FL at 3:00 pm
- Destination: X44 Watson Island FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from MIA, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N83574 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.