Robinson R-22 accident near Laurel, Maryland, November 20, 1982
On November 20, 1982 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N90701, was substantially damaged in an accident near Laurel, Maryland (Suburban 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 1982 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Laurel, Maryland · Suburban 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
- N90701 · registry record · serial 0192
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE RECEIVING FLIGHT INSTRUCTION ON AUTOROTATION THE STUDENT WAS LATE TO ADMINISTER POWER, RESULTING IN A HIGH SINK RATE. THE INSTRUCTOR FAILED TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT IN TIME TO PREVENT THE TAIL FROM STRIKING THE RUNWAY. THE FORWARD END OF THE TAIL CONE WAS CRUSHED AND THE TRANSMISSION DECK WAS BUCKLED IN SEVERAL PLACES.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,933 hours in all; 73 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 1,675 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 703 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HO-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: New Haven Helicopter INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Laurel MD at 11:20 am
- Destination: Laurel MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 2,164 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 140°F (60°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL83LA037.