Robinson R22 Beta accident near Parkland, Florida, February 12, 2001
On February 12, 2001 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Robinson R22 Beta (helicopter), registered N2327S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Parkland, Florida. It was an instructional 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 failure of the instructor to take corrective action in a timely manner to prevent the helicopter from contacting the ground when the student allowed it to descend during hover practice which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 12, 2001 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Parkland, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 Beta · all R22 Betas on the register
- Registration
- N2327S · no longer on the register · serial 2113
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student was practicing hovering with the flight instructor following lightly on the controls. The helicopter was drifting to the left and the student allowed the helicopter to settle. The instructor waited for him to take corrective action and when he did not, the instructor then instructed the student to take corrective action. The student did not and as the instructor initiated corrective action, the left skid skipped on the ground and the helicopter began to roll to the left. Attempts by the instructor to correct the roll were not successful and the helicopter rolled over to the left. The instructor stated dynamic rollover was the cause of the roll.
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
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 321 hours in all; 321 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 264 as pilot in command; 117 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 14, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 3 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,532 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 24, 2001; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Volar Helicopters, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL at 8:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from FXE, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 N2327S 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.