Robinson R-22M accident near Stevensville, Maryland, May 20, 1990
On May 20, 1990 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Robinson R-22M (helicopter), registered N4003K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stevensville, Maryland. It was a personal 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 FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL WHILE TAXIING ON TURBULENT WATER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1990 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stevensville, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22M · all R-22Ms on the register
- Registration
- N4003K · no longer on the register · serial 1393M
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT WHILE TAXIING ON THE WATERS OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY HE ENCOUNTERED A WAVE FROM A PASSING BOAT, CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO NOSE DOWN. THE PLT UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO REGAIN CONTROL WITH CYLIC INPUT; HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER NOSED OVER AND SUNK IN THE WATER. THE PLT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
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: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,010 hours in all; 2,700 in this make and model; 230 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 2,985 as pilot in command; 2,700 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 40 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W32 Clinton MD at 5:30 pm
- Destination: W29 Stevensville MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 090° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 12,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from BWI, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.