Robinson R-22B accident near Magnolia, Delaware, November 19, 1994
On November 19, 1994 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N40411, was destroyed in an accident near Magnolia, Delaware (Elliott Heliport airport). It was a personal 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 failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm while hovering.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 19, 1994 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Magnolia, Delaware · Elliott Heliport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B · all R-22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N40411 · no longer on the register · serial 1606
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE WAS HOVERING THE HELICOPTER OVER HIS FARM WHEN IT DEVELOPED LOW RPM. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT '...THE RPM WARNING WENT OFF. WHILE IN THE MIDST OF RECOVERING A SKID HIT THE GROUND HARD. HELICOPTER BOUNCED ONCE AND THEN ROLLED OVER.'
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 340 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 890 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 1994; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DE24 at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Observation at 10:55 pm from DOV, 6 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.