NTSB NYC93LA083 — 1993-04-14 · RONKONKOMA, New York, United States

N344WA has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (PIPER PA 46-350P, built 2024), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

N344WA Robinson R22B None

Probable cause & findings

THE LACK OF ADEQUATE SUPERVISION AND DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DELAY IN ADDING POWER BY THE STUDENT PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN A LOW ROTOR RPM CONDITION.

Factual narrative

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS MAKING AN AUTOROTATION WITH A POWER RECOVERY. DURING THE FLARE, THE LOW ROTOR WARNING HORN CAME ON. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER THE ROTOR RPM. HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND MADE A RUN ON LANDING IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE SKIDS DUG IN AND THE HELICOPTER NOSED OVER. THE CFI HAD 205 HOURS TOTAL TIME AND 20 HOURS AS A CFI. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1993_NYC93LA083.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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