Robinson R-22 accident near Londonderry, New Hampshire, November 21, 2000
On November 21, 2000 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N8117Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Londonderry, New Hampshire. It was a personal 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 21, 2000 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Londonderry, New Hampshire
- 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
- N8117Y · no longer on the register · serial 2404
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot (SP) was attempting to off-load the helicopter from a trailer, which was parked at his residence. He stated that as he lifted the helicopter to a hover, 'something didn't feel just right' and he gently started to lower the collective, with the intent of landing back onto the trailer. At that point, the helicopter began to rollover. The SP further stated, 'As I gave a quick glance in the mirror, I saw that the right strut had jumped the one inch lip of the trailer and was going down over the side....' The helicopter impacted the ground and came to rest on it's left side. The SP reported 39 hours of total helicopter flight experience, all in make and model. Additionally, he stated he had landed and departed from the trailer approximately one dozen times prior to the accident. Examination of the helicopter did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions; nor did the SP report any.
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: student
- Flight time: 72 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 17 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,060 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 7, 2000; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 2:00 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from MHT, 15 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.