Robinson R22B accident near Wexford, Pennsylvania, September 20, 1991
On September 20, 1991 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Robinson R22B (helicopter), registered N2289K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wexford, Pennsylvania. 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'S IMPROPER PROCEDURES DURING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION, AND SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, AT A LOW ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 1991 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wexford, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22B · all R22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2289K · no longer on the register · serial 0513
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT 600 FEET AGL THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION. AT 200 FEET AGL THE PILOT SAID THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND 'STOPPED COMPLETELY'. THE PILOT DID NOT INDICATE WHAT HIS ENGINE OR ROTOR INSTRUMENTS WERE INDICATING PRIOR TO THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED TREES AT APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET AGL, AND THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON A 25% UPWARD SLOPE. THE HELICOPTER AND ENGINE WERE REMOVED FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE FAA TEST RAN THE ENGINE FOR 45 MINUTES AND DID NOT FIND ANY DISCREPANCIES.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,054 hours in all; 653 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 871 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,973 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 20, 1991; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.
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.