Robinson R-22B accident near Valatie, New York, May 2, 1987
On May 2, 1987 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N2442A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Valatie, New York. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- May 2, 1987 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Valatie, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B · all R-22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2442A · no longer on the register · serial 587
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ROBINSON R-22B TOOK OFF FROM A OPEN FIELD, TRAVELED 600 FEET AND STRUCK SUSPENDED UTILITY LINES AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 FT. AFTERWARD, THE HELICOPTER WAS LANDED SUCCESSFULLY. OTHER LINES WERE APPROXIMATELY 1000 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE POINT. THE PILOT WAS AWARE OF THE MORE DISTANT LINES, HOWEVER, HE WAS NOT AWARE OF THE CLOSER SET OF LINES.
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: 2,298 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 2,187 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 385 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Eagle Helicopters,Inc.
The flight
- Destination: N24 Spring Valley NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.