Robinson R22HP accident near Shirley, New York, July 29, 1990
On July 29, 1990 at about 12:10 pm local time, a Robinson R22HP (helicopter), registered N9030Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shirley, New York (Brookhaven airport). It was an instructional flight 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
IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE STUDENT PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 1990 · about 12:10 pm local time
- Place
- Shirley, New York · Brookhaven · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22HP · all R22HPs on the register
- Registration
- N9030Z · no longer on the register · serial 0059
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS MAKING HIS FIRST SUPERVISED SOLO. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 7 MINUTES OF HOVERING, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT FOR A SLIGHT TURN TO THE RIGHT. THE HELICOPTER MADE AT LEAST 2 RAPID 360 DEGREE TURNS TO THE RIGHT AND SETTLED ON THE REAR OF THE RIGHT SKID, ROLLING OVER ON THE RIGHT SIDE. NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE EXISTING FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS NOTED WITH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
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: student
- Flight time: 73 hours in all; 73 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,617 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 8, 1990; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ISP Islip NY at 11:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N9030Z 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.