Robinson R-22 accident near Ellington, Connecticut, April 29, 1987
On April 29, 1987 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N9070F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ellington, Connecticut (Windham airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- April 29, 1987 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ellington, Connecticut · Windham
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N9070F · no longer on the register · serial 0185
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT SIMULATED A FORCED LANDING AT ABOUT 250 FEET AND 60 KIAS. THE STUDENT PILOT AT THIS TIME ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION AND THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO DESCEND. COLLECTIVE WAS PULLED BUT THIS FAILED TO STOP THE DESCENT AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND IN A TAIL LOW ATTITUDE. AIRCRAFT SLID FORWARD IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE AND THE RIGHT SKID DUG INTO THE SURFACE CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,556 hours in all; 2,504 in this make and model; 203 in the last 90 days; 2,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,998 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7B9 at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 N9070F 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.