Robinson R-22B accident near Knightdale, North Carolina, September 28, 1994
On September 28, 1994 at about 1:47 pm local time, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N83112, was destroyed in an accident near Knightdale, North Carolina (Raleigh East airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
DIVERGENCE OF THE MAIN ROTOR FROM ITS NORMAL PLANE OF ROTATION FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON(S) RESULTING IN ROTOR BLADE CONTACT WITH THE TAILCONE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 1994 · about 1:47 pm local time
- Place
- Knightdale, North Carolina · Raleigh East · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B · all R-22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N83112 · no longer on the register · serial 2446
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT WAS DELAYED BECAUSE OF A FOG LAYER AT THE AIRPORT. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES AT THE AIRPORT, THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED WITHOUT INCIDENT. A MINUTE INTO THE FLIGHT THEY HEARD THE PILOT, ALSO A HELICOPTER CFI, SAY, 'HEY! I'VE GOT A...'. NO OTHER RADIO TRANSMISSIONS WERE HEARD. A WITNESS LOCATED NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE RECALLED WATCHING THE HELICOPTER FISHTAIL, AND HEARD A SPUTTERING SOUND COMING FROM THE HELICOPTER. RADAR DATA DEPICTED THE HELICOPTER AT 700 FT MSL, FLYING IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION, AND THEN REVERSE COURSE TO A WESTERLY HEADING, WITHIN 23 SECS OF COVERAGE. THE MAIN FUSELAGE IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A WOODED AREA; OTHER DEBRIS FROM THE HELICOPTER WAS SCATTERED OVER AN AREA 800 FEET LONG AND 100 FEET WIDE. A POST IMPACT FIRE FURTHER DAMAGED THE AIRFRAME. EXAMINATION OF THE SEPARATED TAILCONE AND FUSELAGE COMPONENTS SHOWED EVIDENCE OF INFLIGHT MAIN ROTOR BLADE CONTACT; THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION ALSO SHOWED SIGNS OF MAST BUMPING.
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: 790 hours in all; 305 in this make and model; 132 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 704 as pilot in command; 140 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 124 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 30, 1994; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: W17 at 1:45 pm
- Destination: W17 NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 0.8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from RDU, 18 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.
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.