Robinson R-22 accident near Port Jefferson, New York, April 15, 1999
On April 15, 1999 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N151RM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Jefferson, New York. It was an instructional 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 lack of supervision by the flight instructor which resulted in a low rotor condition and subsequent hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1999 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Port Jefferson, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N151RM · registry record · serial 0343
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was receiving rotorcraft instruction and was on approach to land. As the helicopter passed through about 15 feet, the flight instructor was also on the flight controls. The airspeed was about 20 MPH, with a descent of 200-300 FPM. When the collective was raised the helicopter continued to descend, landed hard, and rolled over. When interviewed the flight instructor remembered the LOW ROTOR warning horn had sounded. Post accident examination of the engine and mechanical throttle compensator found no evidence of a mechanical failure. The helicopter manufacturer had published a safety notice which cautioned against airspeed of less than 30 knots until the descent rates were less than 300 FPM.
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: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 750 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 176 in the last 90 days; 66 in the last 30 days; 693 as pilot in command; 400 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,448 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 21, 1999; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Helicopter Flight Training INC
The flight
- Departed from: ISP Ronkonkoma NY at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from ISP, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.