Robinson R22 accident near Port Orchard, Washington, June 9, 1985
On June 9, 1985 at about 3:30 am local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N8490D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Orchard, Washington (Port Orchard airport). 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 1985 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Port Orchard, Washington · Port Orchard · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N8490D · registry record · serial 403
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) WITH ONLY 358 HRS TOTAL FLT TIME WAS DEMONSTRATING AN AUTOROTATION WITH A POWER RECOVERY. DURING THE RECOVERY, THE CFI FAILED TO FULLY REGAIN RPM & THE HELICOPTER SETTLED TO THE SURFACE. WITH A LOW ROTOR RPM, THERE WAS A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS & THE HELICOPTER TURNED TO THE RIGHT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN WITH FORWARD MOVEMENT & RIGHT YAW, THEN ROLLED OVER. THE CFI REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTH AT 10 GUSTING 15 KTS.
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: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 358 hours in all; 215 in this make and model; 152 in the last 90 days; 279 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,060 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0S8 at 3:25 am
- Destination: OS8
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
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.