Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Prnc Frederick, Maryland 20678
Sunday, April 22, 1990 13:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER THE PASSENGER BOARDED THE HELICOPTER, THE PLT DEPLANED WITH THE ENG IDLING, SO HE COULD REMOVE THE PASSENGER DOOR. HE ENGAGED THE FRICTION LOCK ON THE COLLECTIVE & TOLD THE PASSENGER, WHO WAS NOT A PLT, TO KEEP THE CYCLIC CENTERED. AS THE PLT WAS REMOVING THE PASSENGER DOOR, HE HEARD THE ENG SOUND CHANGE. THE HELICOPTER THEN LIFTED OFF ABOUT 3 FT & SPUN RIGHT UNTIL THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER & CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS RPRTD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY NOT SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE OR ASSURING THE HELICOPTER WAS PROPERLY ATTENDED,WHEN HE DEPLANED.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/22/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1345
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City PRNC FREDERICK
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 20678
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1350 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID DCA
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 110
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 23 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40681
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:53PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2580E
NTSB Number BFO90LA037
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROBINSON
Aircraft Model R22 BETA
Aircraft Series Identifier R22 BETA
Aircraft Serial Number 0636
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 6 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 87
Airframe Hours 2204
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NICO AIRCRAFT LEASING CO. INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8009 ALLENTOWN RD.
Aircraft Owner City FT. WASHINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 20744
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name STEVEN PHILLIPS AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 10275 PISCATAWAY RD.
Operator City CLINTON
Operator State MD
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 20735
Operator Code TEPA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1345
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --