Robinson R-22 accident near Bunnell, Florida, November 9, 2001
On November 9, 2001 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N4009W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bunnell, Florida (Flagler County Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot-in-commands (CFI) failure to follow procedures and directives (positive relinquish of flight controls from a dual student and improper flare (too high) during an autorotation) which resulted in a subsequent hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the dual students failure to relinquish the flight controls.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 9, 2001 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Bunnell, Florida · Flagler County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N4009W · no longer on the register · serial 1381
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot-in-command (CFI) instructed the dual student to demonstrate a straight in autorotation. The dual student initiated a flare/deceleration early. The CFI took possession of the flight controls and did not instruct the dual student to relinquish the flight controls. The CFI flared too high, the dual student froze on the flight controls and the helicopter collided with the ground hard.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,580 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 108 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 27, 2001
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,223 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 2001; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X47 Bunnell FL at 4:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 5,020 ft by 110 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 010° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from DAB, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N4009W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.