Robinson R22 accident near Millville, New Jersey, May 8, 1990
On May 8, 1990 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N9071Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Millville, New Jersey (Millville Muni 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 STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT BY THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI). CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF TOTAL TIME AND EXPERIENCE OF BOTH THE STUDENT AND INSTRUCTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1990 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Millville, New Jersey · Millville Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N9071Z · registry record · serial 0203
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PRACTICE HOVER WITH THE STUDENT AT THE CONTROLS,THE STUDENT STARTED A RAPID AFT CYCLIC MOVEMENT, CAUSING THE TAIL ROTOR TO CONTACT THE GROUND AND SEPARATE. THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) TOOK CONTROL AND INITIATED A HOVER AUTOROTATION AND THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED ABOUT 10 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER THEN STRUCK THE GROUND RIGHT SKID LOW AND CAME TO REST IN A RELATIVE LEVEL ATTITUDE WITH THE RIGHT SKID COLLAPSING AND THE CRAFT ROLLING TO THE RIGHT SIDE. THE CFI WAS ISSUED HIS INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE 7 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE STUDENT HAD ONLY 4.8 HOURS OF EXPERIENCE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 308 hours in all; 292 in this make and model; 137 in the last 90 days; 43 in the last 30 days; 233 as pilot in command; 19 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,529 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 4, 1990; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M1V Millville NJ at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N9071Z 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.