Robinson R22 accident near Canton, Pennsylvania, July 22, 1983
On July 22, 1983 at about 4:12 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N9066P, was destroyed in an accident near Canton, Pennsylvania. It was an aerial observation 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
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
- July 22, 1983 · about 4:12 pm local time
- Place
- Canton, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N9066P · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE HELICOPTER WAS ON A POWER LINE PATROL FLT, ONE OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEPARATED & THE ACFT CRASHED & BURNED. NUMEROUS PERSONS SAW THE HELICOPTER WHILE THE PLT WAS PATROLLING AT LOW ALT. SEVERAL REPORTED SEEING THE ACFT MANEUVER ABRUPTLY OVER OBTACLES. ALSO, SEVERAL WITNESSES SAW THE HELICOPTER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ONE SAID THE HELICOPTER WOBBLED OR TILTED FROM RIGHT TO LEFT & ALMOST IMMEDIATELY EXPLODED IN THE AIR. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE SEPARATED MAIN ROTOR BLADE PN A-016-1, A REVISION W BLADE, HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE ABOUT 8 1/4 INCHES OUTBOARD OF THE SPINDLE BOLT CENTERLINE.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,072 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 83 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Muth Aircraft Company
The flight
- Departed from: IPT1 Williamsport PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 am from IPT
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.
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.