Robinson R-22 accident near Naples, Florida, January 24, 1994
On January 24, 1994 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N525BW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Naples, Florida (Naples Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S DELAYED REACTION TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CYCLIC AND COLLECTIVE CONTROLS AND HIS FAILURE TO RELEASE THE FLIGHT CONTROLS TO THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 24, 1994 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Naples, Florida · Naples Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N525BW · registry record · serial 2358
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR DEMONSTRATED A HOVERING AUTOROTATION, THEN HE INSTRUCTED THE STUDENT PILOT TO EXECUTE THE MANUEVER. THE STUDENT PILOT ATTEMPTED THE HOVERING AUTOROTATION BUT OPENED THE THROTTLE INSTEAD OF CLOSING THE THROTTLE AS REQUIRED. THE INSTUCTOR PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN CONTROL BUT THE STUDENT PILOT DID NOT RELINQUISH CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER PITCHED UP, ROTATED 360 DEGREES TO THE LEFT, STRUCK THE GROUND, THEN ROLLED OVER AND CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.
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: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 882 hours in all; 149 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 822 as pilot in command; 113 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 189 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 10, 1993; 89 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: London Helicoper INC.
The flight
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 18,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:20 pm from APF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.