Robinson R22 accident near Kent, Washington, September 9, 1989
On September 9, 1989 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N8034J, was destroyed in an accident near Kent, Washington. 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 INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S FAILURE TO TAKE TIMELY CORRECTIVE ACTION TO RECOVER FROM A LOW ROTOR RPM CONDITION, RESULTING IN IMPACT WITH THE GROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 1989 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kent, Washington · 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
- N8034J · no longer on the register · serial 1051
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON TAKEOFF AT 300 FT AGL, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT RETARDED THE THROTTLE TO SIMULATE AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE PRESOLO STUDENT DID NOT LOWER THE COLLECTIVE TO ENTER AUTOROTATION, RESULTING IN LOSS OF ROTOR RPM. THE CFI INITIATED REMEDIAL ACTION TOO LATE TO AVOID IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. THE ACFT IMPACTED AT 40 KTS, FRACTURING THE LANDING GEAR, AND THE ACFT ROLLED OVER. THIS WAS THE CFI'S FIRST FLT WITH THIS STUDENT WHO HAD 20 HRS FLT TIME.
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: 2,670 hours in all; 2,200 in this make and model; 155 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 2,510 as pilot in command; 1,910 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 371 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 23, 1989; 71 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: BFI Seattle WA at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from BFI, 5 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.