Robinson R22-Beta accident near Flint, Michigan, July 20, 2003
On July 20, 2003 at about 1:55 pm local time, a Robinson R22-Beta (helicopter), registered N131MH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Flint, Michigan (Flint Bishop airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's inadequate decision to land on an unsuitable area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 2003 · about 1:55 pm local time
- Place
- Flint, Michigan · Flint Bishop · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22-Beta · all R22-Betas on the register
- Registration
- N131MH · registry record · serial 3449
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter sustained substantial damage during a run on landing to the grass infield of the Bishop International Airport (FNT), Flint, Michigan, after the pilot reported he was having difficulties with the helicopter's "vertical pitch" during climbout. The pilot reported that during climbout at about 200-300 feet agl and about 3,000 feet from the approach end of a 7,848 foot runway, the engine was not producing enough lift. The pilot chose to execute a run on landing to the grass infield instead of landing straight ahead on the remaining runway. The ground was rough and the helicopter cartwheeled during the run on landing. The air traffic controller had cleared the pilot to land wherever he needed to land. The helicopter had a total of 56.8 hours since new. The inspection of the airframe, flight controls, and drive train revealed no pre-existing anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter. The engine was put on a test stand and an engine run was conducted. The engine met all the parameters specified in the Lycoming "Production Manual Engine Test Log." The pilot reported that he should have landed on the runway, but he landed on the grass because he did not know where the other aircraft was behind him. He reported that he did not want to be a problem, and if he was the only aircraft in the pattern he would have landed on the runway.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,400 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,100 as pilot in command; 3,400 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 11, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 56.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FNT Flint MI at 2:00 pm
- Destination: PTK Waterford MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 7,848 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from FNT
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI03FA218.