Robinson R-22 accident near Northport, NY
On August 29, 2004, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Northport, NY. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 29, 2004
- Place
- Northport, NY
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 40.928°N, 73.342°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040913X01406
NTSB summary
On August 29, 2004, about 1802 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R-22, N871CL, was substantially damaged when it impacted water near Northport, New York. The certificated flight instructor, and private pilot were fatally injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight that departed Long Island Mac Arthur Airport (ISP), Islip, New York, about 1715. No flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. HISTORY OF FLIGHT According to radar data, a target matching the performance characteristics of the accident helicopter, and "squawking 1200," was flying east along the north shore of Long Island, New York, about 600 feet agl. The target then initiated a descent, and radar contact was lost approximately 300 feet agl. Several minutes later, radar contact was reestablished, and the target continued to proceed eastbound about 600 feet agl. In the vicinity of the accident site, about 2 minutes before the accident, radar contact was lost, and was not reestablished. According to a witness that was lying on the beach watching a kite, the helicopter approached from the west along the shoreline 100 to 160 feet agl. The witness then saw the helicopter collide with the kite, the main rotor system separate, and about a second later, heard a loud "pop," which he described as sounding like a "balloon popping but much louder." The helicopter then started to rotate rapidly in a counter clockwise direction, then impacted the water. The witness also recovered the kite string, minus the kite, and gave it to local authorities. Accor
Probable cause
An improper maneuver by the flightcrew while attempting to avoid a kite, which resulted in mast bumping, the separation of the main rotor system, and a subsequent uncontrolled descent into water.
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Browse: New York · Robinson aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
