Robinson R-22 accident near Port Gamble, Washington, November 12, 1988
On November 12, 1988 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N2460P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Gamble, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- November 12, 1988 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Port Gamble, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N2460P · no longer on the register · serial 0586
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOREIGN NATIONAL PILOT WAS OBTAINING HELICOPTER INSTRUCTION. ON SOLO FLT TO PRACTICE LNDGS IN UNIMPROVED TERRAIN, TOUCHED DOWN ON STUMP WITH ONE SKID AND ROLLED OVER. PLT CITED TEMPORARY PWR LOSS DURING APPROACH. INVESTIGATION FOUND NO ENGINE MALFUNCTION.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 225 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 72 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,024 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 26, 1988; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Classic Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BFI Seattle WA at 4:25 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,700 ft; scat at 700 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from PAE, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.