Robinson Beta II accident near Lawrenceville, Georgia, October 31, 2005
On October 31, 2005 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Robinson Beta II (helicopter), registered N861MP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lawrenceville, Georgia (Gwinnett County - Briscoe Fiel 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 which resulted in a collision with a fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 2005 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lawrenceville, Georgia · Gwinnett County - Briscoe Fiel · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Beta II
- Registration
- N861MP · registry record · serial 3366
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the student pilot, he lifted the collective control of the helicopter and it began to turn left. The pilot lowered the collective control, applied right anti-torque input, and added power. The helicopter began spinning to the right, collided with a fence, and the helicopter rolled over on its right side and came to a stop. Examination of the helicopter revealed the tail boom separated from the airframe and the man rotor blades were buckled at the main rotor mass. The student pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the helicopter.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 60 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,047 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2005; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 878 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LZU Lawrenceville GA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: LZU Lawerance GA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observation at 4:30 pm from LZU
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 N861MP 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.