- Date
- December 20, 1985, 08:40 local (13:40 UTC)
- Place
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N8488HRobinson R22A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19851220063369A
- Case key
- 13296
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt reported he flew into the wolverine power plant for the purpose of picking up a passenger to whom he was to demonstrate the helicopter's ability to survey power lines. He continued to report, shortly after landing during normal engine shut down procedures the intended passenger walked into the spinning tail rotor. Witnesses observed the passengerpull the hood on his parka over his head and walk toward the helicopter with his head down. The terrain was snow coveredat the time of the accident. The passenger flew in the helicopter with this same plt on the previous day and reportedly was briefed on the proper boarding procedure. The plt also stated he warned the passenger about the tail rotor.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8488H
- Reported as
- Robinson R22A
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0399
- Airframe hours
- 480
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 124 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- John Veldman, doing business as John Veldman Enterprises, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- HLM · Holland, MI
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 7,180 total · 480 in this make and model · 6,900 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Temperature
- 9 °F, dew point 3 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GRR, 5 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.