# NTSB NYC91LA254: Robinson R-22, N950CW, Point Judith, RI, September 24, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 23, 1991, 21:00 local (Sep 24, 1991, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Point Judith, RI
- Location: 41.3654° N, 71.4867° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Point Judith, RI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3654&lon=-71.4867&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37027
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91LA254
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37027/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91LA254

## Probable cause

THE PILOT BECOME DISORIENTED AND LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A DARK NIGHT, FLIGHT OVER WATER, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, unknown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Missing aircraft, unknown
  - terrain condition - water,rough (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT DEPARTED BLOCK ISLAND, RHODE ISLAND, ON A DARK NIGHT AND WAS REPORTED MISSING WHEN HE DID NOT ARRIVE AT FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK.  A SEARCH WAS INITIATED, BUT THE PILOT AND HELICOPTER WERE NOT FOUND.  THE TAIL SECTION OF THE HELICOPTER WAS RECOVERED BY THE COAST GUARD ON DECEMBER, 8, 1991.  THE PILOT HAD APPROXIMATELY 100 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N950CW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N950CW-1994-10-06), registration cancelled 1994-10-06, S/N 1637 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R-22
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1637
- Airframe hours: 890
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2C 131 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Coastline Helicopters
- Registered owner: Medicopter, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 21, 1991, 90 hours before
- Departed: BID, BLOCK ISLAND, RI
- Destination: FRG, FARMINGDALE, NY
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 100 total, 100 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19910923043729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910923043729A), Sep 23, 1991: Robsin R22BETA, Point Judith, RI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Departed night flight. Became missing. Tail section found in ocean. Indicates lost control. Spatial disorientation.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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