Robinson R-22 ALPHA accident near Coram, New York, February 2, 1991
On February 2, 1991 at about 8:37 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 ALPHA (helicopter), registered N8555K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coram, New York (Coram Airpark airport). 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 PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM AND MISJUDGING THE HEIGHT OF THE FLARE DURING A PRECAUTIONARY AUTOROTATIVE LANDING, RESULTING IN A ROLL OVER DURING THE LANDING FLARE TOUCHDOWN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 1991 · about 8:37 pm local time
- Place
- Coram, New York · Coram Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 ALPHA · all R-22 ALPHAs on the register
- Registration
- N8555K · no longer on the register · serial 0446
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
N8555K WAS ENROUTE FROM SHIRLEY, NEW YORK, TO ISLIP, NEW YORK, AT A CRUISING ALTITUDE OF 1100 FEET WHEN THE PILOT HEARD A PERSISTENT NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE ATTEMPTED A PRECAUTIONARY AUTOROTATIVE LANDING. THE NOISE PERSISTED THROUGHOUT DESCENT. AT APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS WAS LOST, AND THE HELICOPTER SKID MADE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND CAUSING A ROLL OVER.
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: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,840 hours in all; 157 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 72 in the last 30 days; 1,607 as pilot in command; 785 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Helicopter CORP
The flight
- Departed from: HWV Shirley NY at 8:00 pm
- Destination: ISP Ronkonkoma NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.