Robinson R22A N8488H

Summary

On 20 December 1985 at about 13:40 local time, a Robinson R22A registered N8488H, operated by John Veldman, was involved in an accident near Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. 2 people were on board. One person on the ground also died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

20 December 1985 at 13:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

Coordinates

42.8702, -85.6201

Aircraft

Robinson R22A

Registration

N8488H

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

John Veldman

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Holland → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI86FEM03

Injuries not recorded.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.