Robinson R-22B accident near Cody, Wyoming, May 13, 1993
On May 13, 1993 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N14NH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cody, Wyoming. It was a ferry 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHILE HOVERING. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE IMPROPER DECISION BY THE PILOT, IMPROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT SELECTION, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND WIND GUSTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 1993 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cody, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B · all R-22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N14NH · no longer on the register · serial 1488
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT USED MAXIMUM POWER TO FLY OVER A MOUNTAIN PASS AND DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AFTER CROSSING THE SUMMIT WHEN THE OIL TEMP REACHED THE MAXIMUM FOR NORMAL OPERATION. HE MADE AN APPROACH TO AN OGE HOVER, THEN FLEW A TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING. HE MADE AN APPROACH TO A HOVER, ELECTED TO HOVER TAXI TO A SUITABLE LANDING SITE, ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND, AND LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE ACFT LOST ROTOR RPM, DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE SITE WAS ABOUT 9380 FT.
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; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,461 hours in all; 541 in this make and model; 192 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 4,169 as pilot in command; 1,700 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,717 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 11, 1993; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Photo, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BZN Bozeman MT at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from COD, 43 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.