Robinson R22 MARINER accident near Ocala, Florida, November 17, 1991
On November 17, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Robinson R22 MARINER (helicopter), registered N4072U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ocala, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER USE OF COLLECTIVE CONTROL AND THROTTLE DURING RECOVERY FROM AN AUTOROTATION WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ROTOR RPM AND A SUBSEQUENT HARD LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ocala, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 MARINER R22 MARINE · all R22 MARINERs on the register
- Registration
- N4072U · no longer on the register · serial 1788M
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT INITIATED PRACTICE AUTOROTATION. AT 500 FEET ALTITUDE RECOVERY WAS ATTEMPTED BY INCREASING COLLECTIVE AND INCREASING THROTTLE. LOW ROTOR SPEED WARNING WAS HEARD AND ENGINE DID NOT ACCELERATE. PILOT LOWERED COLLECTIVE AND CONTINUED AUTOROTATION TO THE GROUND AT WHICH TIME A HARD LANDING WAS MADE. POSTCRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY FAA INSPECTORS REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS OPERATED AFTER THE ACCIDENT WITH NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 276 hours in all; 127 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 276 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 127 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1991; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Drax CORP.
The flight
- Departed from: OCF Ocala FL at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from OCF, 6 miles away
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 N4072U 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.