Robinson R-22B accident near Frederick, Maryland, March 11, 1995
On March 11, 1995 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N2346P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Frederick, Maryland (Frederick Municipal 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
the helicopter pilot's inadequate control of the aircraft during the attempted takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 1995 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Frederick, Maryland · Frederick Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B · all R-22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2346P · no longer on the register · serial 2223
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF FROM A DOLLY WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. ACCORDING TO THE FAA INSPECTOR THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING INITIAL LIFTOFF, WHEN HE APPLIED THE COLLECTIVE AND RAISED THE HELICOPTER TO HOVER, THE ROTOR RPM BLED OFF AND THE HELICOPTER SETTLED BACK ON THE DOLLY. HE FURTHER STATED THAT WHEN HE TRIED TO LIFT OFF AGAIN, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. THE FAA EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE SKID HOOKED ONTO THE DOLLY AS THE PILOT APPLIED POWER. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION NOTED.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 330 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FDK at 12:30 pm
- Destination: HGR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 pm from HGR, 23 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.