Robinson Helicopter Company R22 MARINER accident near Oak Island, North Carolina, June 14, 2012
On June 14, 2012 at about 8:37 pm local time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R22 MARINER, registered N1089N, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Oak Island, North Carolina. 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's failure to properly execute the helicopter practice autorotation recovery, which resulted in a collision with the water.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2012 · about 8:37 pm local time
- Place
- Oak Island, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R22 MARINER
- Registration
- N1089N · no longer on the register · serial 1089M
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the helicopter was established in cruise flight at 600 feet mean sea level and an airspeed of 75 knots when she entered a practice autorotation over the ocean, with the intention of a power recovery. The pilot lowered the collective pitch to the full down position and rolled the throttle to the full off position. The pilot then raised the collective pitch and the main rotor rpm started to decrease and the low main rotor audio sounded. The pilot increased the throttle and increased collective, and the main rotor rpm continued to decrease. The helicopter continued to descend until it impacted the ocean and rolled over inverted. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger stated there were no mechanical problems with the helicopter.
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
What happened, in order
- Simulated/training event during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Autorotation Attempted remediation/recovery
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Prop/rotor parameters › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Water › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter
- Flight time: 225 hours in all; 222 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 181 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 11, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Crew member
No details recorded.
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 6, 2012; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Watercraft Photo Helicopter LLC
The flight
- Departed from: ILM Wilmington NC at 8:30 pm
- Destination: MYR Myrtle Beach SC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 pm from SUT, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N1089N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.