- Date
- March 11, 1995, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place
- Frederick, MD
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2346PRobinson R-22B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 19, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950311003629A
- Case key
- 9029
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 helicopter pilot's inadequate control of the aircraft during the attempted takeoff.
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 reported he was attempting a takeoff from a dolly when the accident occurred. According to the FAA inspector the pilot reported that during initial liftoff, when he applied the collective and raised the helicopter to hover, the rotor RPM bled off and the helicopter settled back on the dolly. He further stated that when he tried to lift off again, the helicopter rolled over. The FAA examined the aircraft after the accident and it was revealed that the skid hooked onto the dolly as the pilot applied power. There was no evidence of mechanical malfunction noted.
Factual narrative
On March 11, 1995, at 0730 eastern standard time, N2346P, a Robinson R-22B helicopter, owned and operated by Advanced Helicopter Concepts Inc. of Frederick, Maryland, crashed during takeoff at Frederick Municipal Airport, Frederick, Maryland. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The local, personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91.
According to an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector, the pilot was attempting to liftoff from a dolly when the left skid hooked onto the dolly and rolled over. The pilot reported to the FAA that he completed his preflight inspection and engine run-up check successfully. The pilot stated the helicopter lifted off once, but there was a loss of rotor RPM and the helicopter settled back onto the platform. When the pilot added power to attempt a second takeoff, the helicopter skid was hooked on the dolly and the helicopter rolled onto the asphalt field.
An FAA Aviation Safety Inspector examined the helicopter at the accident site. The examination revealed that the main rotor blades contacted the asphalt field separating sections of the blades. The examination did not reveal evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2346P
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2223
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Advanced Helicopter Concepts
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- FDK
- Destination
- HGR
- Airport
- FDK · Frederick Municipal
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
- 44
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 330 total · 32 in this make and model · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 34 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HGR, 23 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.