Robinson R22 accident near Burrville, Rhode Island, August 5, 1987
On August 5, 1987 at about 8:46 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N2285Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burrville, Rhode Island. It was a personal 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
- August 5, 1987 · about 8:46 pm local time
- Place
- Burrville, Rhode Island
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N2285Z · no longer on the register · serial 0511M
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AIRCRAFT LOST ENGINE POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 200 FEET. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO AUTOROTATE BACK TO THE LAKE BUT DURING A TURN TO AVOID COLLISION WITH A BOAT, THE HELICOPTER CRASHED INTO THE WATER. THE REASON FOR THE ENGINE POWER LOSS WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE PLT STATED HE BELIEVED THE ENG FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF WATER IN THE AIR FILTER STARVING THE ENGINE OF AIR. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE ACFT ENG WAS INVERTED IN THE WATER FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR. IT WAS NOT ESTABLISHED HOW MUCH FUEL, IF ANY, REMAINED IN THE ACFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,220 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 1,920 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 236 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 1987; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3B3 Sterling MA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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 N2285Z 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.