Robinson R-22 accident near Mount Vernon, Ohio, March 27, 2002
On March 27, 2002 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N961CL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mount Vernon, Ohio (Knox 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2002 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Mount Vernon, Ohio · Knox County Airport · map
- 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
- N961CL · registry record · serial 0594
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the pilot was attempting a landing to a ramp area after a solo flight, the helicopter touched down and bounced back into the air. The helicopter touched down a second time, and began to spin to the left. The tailboom struck a ground observer in the head, before the helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its side. The pilot additionally recalled that he had applied full power upon the first touchdown on the pavement, "and fell victim to torque and or tail rotor thrust."
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 180 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 21, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7B3 Baltimore OH at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 4I3 Mount Vernon OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2/8, 5,001 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,100 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from CMH, 13 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.