Robinson R-22 BETA accident near Ardmore, Oklahoma, April 20, 2003
On April 20, 2003 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 BETA (helicopter), registered N2341Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ardmore, Oklahoma (Ardmore Downtown Executive airport). 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 maintain directional control during liftoff. A contributing factor was the inadvertent encounter of propeller blast from the other airplane starting at the time of takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 2003 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ardmore, Oklahoma · Ardmore Downtown Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 BETA · all R-22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N2341Z · no longer on the register · serial 2188
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he pulled the helicopter out of the hangar and faced it north into the light wind behind an airplane that was facing south. During lift off, the helicopter "suddenly moved forward." The pilot then heard a "scraping sound," as the helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its left side. The pilot further stated that as the helicopter lifted off, the airplane located behind the helicopter started its engine. The propeller blast from the parked airplane created a tailwind which the pilot did not expect and could not compensate.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,180 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 159 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 9,703 as pilot in command; 3,585 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 8, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Ardmore OK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from 1F0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 N2341Z 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.