Robinson R-22 ALPHA accident near Juno Beach, Florida, January 31, 1992
On January 31, 1992 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 ALPHA (helicopter), registered N85570, was substantially damaged in an accident near Juno Beach, 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
IMPROPER COLLECTIVE AND CYCLIC CONTROL INPUTS AND POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING DECISION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 1992 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Juno Beach, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 ALPHA · all R-22 ALPHAs on the register
- Registration
- N85570 · registry record · serial 0465
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE FLYING 100 YDS OFFSHORE, 50 FT ABOVE THE WATER, AT 50 KTS, THE FLT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURBULENCE & BEGAN DESCENDING. THE PLT APPLIED UP COLLECTIVE & AFT CYCLIC CONTROL INPUTS TO ARREST THE DESCENT BUT THE DESCENT CONTINUED UNTIL IMPACT WITH THE WATER.
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: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 640 hours in all; 640 in this make and model; 241 in the last 90 days; 59 in the last 30 days; 582 as pilot in command; 206 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,563 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 7, 1992; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fly By Helicopters Corporation
The flight
- Departed from: LNA West Palm Beach FL at 5:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 10 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N85570 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.