Robinson R-22 accident near Pompano Beach, Florida, February 12, 2003
On February 12, 2003 at about 7:41 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N74842, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pompano Beach, Florida (Pompano Beach Airpark airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's failure to maintain control during takeoff which resulted in in uncontrolled descent and the helicopter impacting the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 12, 2003 · about 7:41 pm local time
- Place
- Pompano Beach, Florida · Pompano Beach Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N74842 · no longer on the register · serial 3239
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student stated that he was getting ready to take off on his first solo flight and that the collective was down and the governor was on. He said two Jet Ranger helicopters were approaching close to where he was located, and he decided to wait before taking off. He said his helicopter was not light on the skids, and thinks that it yawed left and then right, but was not sure, and only remembered trying to switch the main switch off as the helicopter he was in was laying on its side. Witnesses stated that they saw the helicopter out of control, and coming to rest on the ground on its side. According to the student, there had been no preaccident failure or malfunctions to the helicopter or any of its systems.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 37 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 0 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,052 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 17, 2003; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PMP Pompano Beach FL at 7:41 pm
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from FLL, 3 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.