Robinson R-22A accident near Bedford, Massachusetts, September 28, 2003
On September 28, 2003 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22A (helicopter), registered N56MU, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bedford, Massachusetts (Laurence G Hanscom Fld airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The certified flight instructor's failure to maintain ground clearance and his delayed remedial action, which resulted in a rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 2003 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bedford, Massachusetts · Laurence G Hanscom Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22A · all R-22As on the register
- Registration
- N56MU · no longer on the register · serial 0458
- 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 (CFI) was providing flight instruction to the student pilot, who had accumulated about 3 hours of helicopter flight experience. According to the CFI, the student pilot was practicing hovering, when the helicopter descended "too low." The helicopter momentarily contacted the ground while drifting to the right, and rolled over. The CFI further stated he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,059 hours in all; 471 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 800 as pilot in command; 170 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 27, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 3 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,139 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 25, 2003; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: East Coast Aero Club
The flight
- Departed from: BED Bedford MA at 3:55 pm
- Destination: BED
- Flight plan: none
- Runway unk
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,300 ft; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from BED
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.