Robinson R-22 accident near Suffolk, Virginia, December 12, 2002
On December 12, 2002 at about 7:23 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N9444Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Suffolk, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate visual lookout while landing, which resulted in a collision with an embankment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 12, 2002 · about 7:23 pm local time
- Place
- Suffolk, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N9444Y · no longer on the register · serial 2965
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While demonstrating an autorotation at a golf course driving range, the tail rotor struck a driving range tee box, and the helicopter rolled onto its left 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,079 hours in all; 709 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 14, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 634 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 2, 2002; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVG Norfolk VA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: PHF Newport News VA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 8:22 pm from SFQ, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N9444Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.