Robinson R-22 accident near Louisburg, North Carolina, October 4, 2002
On October 4, 2002 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N222MQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Louisburg, North Carolina (Franklin County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper use of flight controls (collective and cyclic) during an attempted takeoff to a hover, that resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain, and dynamic rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 2002 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Louisburg, North Carolina · Franklin County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N222MQ · no longer on the register · serial 3362
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on his second supervised solo flight. As he applied collective pitch, the front of the skids of the helicopter came off the ground and the rear of the skids remained on the ground. He continued to increase collective pitch; the helicopter became airborne, yawed to the left, and started drifting to the right. The right skid collided with the ground and the helicopter bounced back into the air. He over corrected with cyclic and the right skid collided with the ground again, and the helicopter rolled over on its right side. The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the helicopter. He was late with flight control inputs and the helicopter rolled over.
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: airline transport pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,179 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 1,999 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 27, 1961
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 56 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 23, 2002; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Corporate Aviation Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: LHZ Louisburg NC at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from RDU, 29 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 N222MQ 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.