Robinson R-22 BETA accident near Seattle, Washington, March 31, 1991
On March 31, 1991 at about 11:02 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 BETA (helicopter), registered N2631V, was destroyed in an accident near Seattle, Washington (Boeing Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT BY THE PILOT DUE TO HIS IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PREPARATION IN FAILING TO SECURE CARGO WHICH SHIFTED IN FLIGHT AND INTERFERED WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE CYCLIC CONTROL STICK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 1991 · about 11:02 pm local time
- Place
- Seattle, Washington · Boeing Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 BETA · all R-22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N2631V · no longer on the register · serial 0776
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS ON VFR FINAL APPR AT 100 FT AGL WHEN IT ROLLED OVER, DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED, AND IMPACTED THE ROOF OF A WHSE. THE IMPACT BROKE A SKYLIGHT IN THE ROOF AND THE ACFT FELL THROUGH THE HOLE, COMING TO REST INSIDE THE WHSE. ROCKS, HAND TOOLS, AND A LARGE UNSECURED TREE STUMP WERE IN THE ACFT CABIN. THE STUMP HAD A FRESH SCAR AND BLACK PAINT SMEARS ADJACENT TO THE CYCLIC CONTROL STICK. A SCREW HEAD IN THE BLACK CYCLIC STICK WAS FILLED WITH WOOD SPLINTERS.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,743 hours in all; 7,661 in this make and model; 211 in the last 90 days; 66 in the last 30 days; 9,424 as pilot in command; 6,656 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Classic Helicopter CORP.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Snoqualmie WA at 10:40 pm
- Destination: BFI Seattle WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.