Robinson R-22-B accident near Plymouth, Florida, October 10, 1987
On October 10, 1987 at about 1:40 pm local time, a Robinson R-22-B (helicopter), registered N2276X, was destroyed in an accident near Plymouth, Florida (Plymouth airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- October 10, 1987 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Plymouth, Florida · Plymouth
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22-B · all R-22-Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2276X · no longer on the register · serial 0508
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT, WITH AN EXPIRED MEDICAL CERTIFICATE AND A LICENSE RESTRICTED TO NO CARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS, TOOK OFF AND EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED CAUSES. HE DID NOT EXECUTE AN AUTOROTATION AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED. THE PILOT HAD ALSO UNDERGONE QUADRUPLE CORONARY BYPASS SURGERY 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO 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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 204 hours in all; 204 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 204 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 10, 1987; 111 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2CM (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from ORL, 11 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 N2276X 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.