Robinson R-22 accident near Rockland, Maine, November 27, 1993
On November 27, 1993 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N8380J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rockland, Maine (Knox County Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
1) THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM, 2) THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON LANDING, RESULTING IN A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 27, 1993 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rockland, Maine · Knox County Regional
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N8380J · registry record · serial 0326
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING HIS SECOND AUTOROTATION, HE REDUCED POWER AND THE LOW ROTOR RPM WARNING WAS ACTIVATED. AS THE PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE TO RESTORE RPM, THE RIGHT SKID STRUCK THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER PIVOTED AROUND TO THE RIGHT, RESULTING IN A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE REPORTED.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 128 in this make and model; 1,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,562 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 29, 1993; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from RKD
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.