NYC89LA068

1989-01-18 · RONKONKOMA, New York, United States · Serious · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport ISP

Aircraft involved

N9021M Robinson R-22HP Serious

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE ROTORCRAFT FLIGHT CONTROLS AND A RESULTING LOW ROTOR RPM CONDITION.

Factual narrative

THE ROBINSON R-22HP TOOK OFF AND CRASHED ON THE AIRPORT IMMEDIATELY AFTER GETTING AIRBORNE. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES AND THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED. THE MAIN ROTOR EXHIBITED SIGNS OF LOW ROTOR RPM AND THE FUSELAGE SHOWED SIGNS OF HIGH VERTICAL IMPACT FORCES. THE MAIN ROTOR HEAD AND THE FREEWHEELING CLUTCH WERE BOTH FREE TO ROTATE. NO EVIDENCE OF CONTROL MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_NYC89LA068.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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