Robinson R-22 accident near Bunnell, Florida, May 26, 1994
On May 26, 1994 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N16MT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bunnell, Florida (Flagler County Airport). It was an instructional 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER USE OF FLIGHT CONTROLS (CYCLIC/COLLECTIVE) RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 1994 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bunnell, Florida · Flagler County Airport
- 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
- N16MT · registry record · serial 62
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT STATED HE WAS HOVERING AND WAS HIT BY A GUST OF WIND WHICH BLEW SAND INTO HIS FACE. WHILE LANDING THE RIGHT SKID AND TAILROTOR TOUCHED THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER BY THE FAA REVEALED THE TAILROTOR BLADES AND VERTICAL FIN SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. REVIEW OF WEATHER INFORMATION REVEALED NO RECORD OF TURBULENCE, DOWN DRAFTS, GUSTS, OR WIND SHEAR.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,985 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 1,910 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 963 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1994; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DAB Daytona Beach FL at 4:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from DAB, 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MIA94LA157.