Robinson R22B accident near Murraysville, Pennsylvania, April 27, 1993
On April 27, 1993 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Robinson R22B (helicopter), registered N2618Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Murraysville, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM, WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING AND ROLLOVER. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL HELICOPTER EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 1993 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Murraysville, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22B · all R22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2618Z · no longer on the register · serial 0721
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT (ROTORCRAFT) WAS MAKING AN OFF AIRPORT HIGH APPROACH TO A PINNACLE WHEN HE EXPERIENCED LOW ROTOR RPM TWICE. THE FIRST TIME HE WAS ABLE TO RECOVER RPM, HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER RPM THE SECOND TIME, AND MADE A HARD LANDING AND ROLLED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE POWERPLANT AND DRIVE SYSTEM BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR, 'FOUND NO REASON WHY THEY SHOULD NOT FUNCTION NORMALLY.'
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 358 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 234 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,861 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 3, 1993; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AGC West Mifflin PA at 11:25 pm
- Destination: AGC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from AGC, 14 miles away
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.