Robinson R-22 accident near Columbus, Ohio, July 2, 2001
On July 2, 2001 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N9077Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbus, Ohio. 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 pilot's loss of control after turning his head into the slipstream outside of the helicopter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2001 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Columbus, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N9077Q · no longer on the register · serial 0273
- 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 in cruise flight about 80 knots at 2,000 feet mean sea level (msl). He said both doors were removed, and that he flew the helicopter from the right seat. He turned his head to the right, and "got a blast of wind" on the back of his head that knocked his glasses and his headset off. The pilot said he lost control of the helicopter, and experienced a sensation of flipping and spinning before he recovered control and continued the flight to his destination. Examination of the helicopter revealed damage consistent with a mast bump event. According to the Robinson R-22 Pilot's Operating Handbook, Doors-off operation, "...keep head and arms inside cabin to avoid high velocity airstream."
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: May 19, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,250 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 2001; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHQ Lancaster OH at 10:45 pm
- Destination: DLZ Delaware OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from CMH, 10 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.