Robinson R-22 N9077Q

Summary

On 2 July 2001 at about 23:00 local time, a Robinson R-22 registered N9077Q was involved in an accident near Columbus, Ohio, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 July 2001 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

39.9833, -82.8833

Aircraft

Robinson R-22

Registration

N9077Q

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lancaster → Delaware

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD01LA101

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's loss of control after turning his head into the slipstream outside of the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the helicopter was in cruise flight about 80 knots at 2,000 feet mean sea level (msl). He said both doors were removed, and that he flew the helicopter from the right seat. He turned his head to the right, and "got a blast of wind" on the back of his head that knocked his glasses and his headset off. The pilot said he lost control of the helicopter, and experienced a sensation of flipping and spinning before he recovered control and continued the flight to his destination. Examination of the helicopter revealed damage consistent with a mast bump event. According to the Robinson R-22 Pilot's Operating Handbook, Doors-off operation, "...keep head and arms inside cabin to avoid high velocity airstream."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.