- Date
- November 19, 1994, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place
- Magnolia, DE
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N40411Robinson R-22B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 13, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19941119038669A
- Case key
- 9016
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm while hovering.
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 pilot stated he was hovering the helicopter over his farm when it developed low RPM. According to the pilot '...the RPM warning went off. While in the midst of recovering a skid hit the ground hard. Helicopter bounced once and then rolled over.'
Factual narrative
On Saturday, November 19, 1994, at 1715 eastern standard time, a Robinson R-22B helicopter, N40411, collided with terrain while hovering at a private heliport near Magnolia, Delaware. The owner/pilot received minor injuries. The helicopter was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated he was hovering the helicopter over his farm, when it developed low RPM. According to the pilot "...the (RPM) warning went off. While in the midst of recovering a skid hit the ground hard. Helicopter bounced once and then rolled over." The fuselage separated and traveled 30 feet before it came to rest on its side.
The pilot stated that "There was no indication of any engine problem, unusual vibrations etc. during the flight."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N40411
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1606
- Airframe hours
- 890
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-320-B2C, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Brett Elliott
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 2, 1994 · 18 hours before
- Departed
- DE24
- Airport
- DE24 · Elliott Heliport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,600 total · 340 in this make and model · 1,400 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Observed at
- DOV, 6 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.