Robinson R-22A accident near East Fishkill, New York, May 10, 1986
On May 10, 1986 at about 4:24 pm local time, a Robinson R-22A (helicopter), registered N8511Z, was destroyed in an accident near East Fishkill, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- May 10, 1986 · about 4:24 pm local time
- Place
- East Fishkill, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22A · all R-22As on the register
- Registration
- N8511Z · registry record · serial 0415
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER DEPARTURE, ANOTHER PILOT ADVISED N8511Z THAT A COWL DOOR WAS OPEN. THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED, BUT CONTINUED THE FLIGHT. DURING THE VFR FLIGHT, WITNESSES HEARD A LOUD POP & OBSERVED THE R22 HELICOPTER BREAK APART IN FLIGHT. ONE WITNESS OBSERVED A LIGHT AIRPLANE TRAVELING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT THE SAME TIME. THE TAIL BOOM WAS THE FIRST PIECE OF THE HELICOPTER FOUND ALONG THE 584' LONG WRECKAGE PATH. THE MAIN ROTOR SEPARATED FROM ITS DRIVE SHAFT & THERE WERE MULTIPLE STRIKES TO THE TAIL BOOM. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE MAIN ROTOR HEAD COMPONENTS & EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE THAT COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE DIVERGING & STRIKING THE TAIL BOOM, RESULTING IN THE IN-FLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE TAIL BOOM. EXAMINATION OF THE RIGHT COLLECTIVE CONTROL TUBE REVEALED A FATIGUE FRACTURE IN THE INBOARD WALL OF THE TUBE WHERE IT IS NORMALLY LIGHTLY LOADED. THE EVIDENCE DID NOT SUPPORT A CONCLUSION THAT THIS WAS RELATED TO LOSS OF MAIN ROTOR CONTROL.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 435 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 287 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 984 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 18, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: POU Poughkeepsie NY at 4:11 pm
- Destination: DXR Danbury CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:43 pm from POU, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.