Robinson R-22HP accident near Islip, New York, August 17, 1990
On August 17, 1990 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Robinson R-22HP (helicopter), registered N9069Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Islip, New York (Long Island Mcarthur 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 FLT CONTROLS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1990 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Islip, New York · Long Island Mcarthur · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22HP · all R-22HPs on the register
- Registration
- N9069Z · no longer on the register · serial 182
- 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 PRACTICING LANDINGS IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS RELATIVE TO THE WIND. THE PLANNED TOUCHDOWN DIRECTION WAS HEADING NORTH. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 210 DEGREES AT 7 KTS. THE PILOT SAID SHE FELT THE HELICOPTER START TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT AND ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE LANDING WITH UP COLLECTIVE. THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER STARTED SPINNING. SHE THEN LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE GROUND, ROLLING ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.
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: 88 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 78 in the last 30 days; 12 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,874 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 1990; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ISP Ronkonkoma NY at 6:50 pm
- Destination: ISP
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°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.
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.