Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Stevensville, Maryland 21666
Sunday, May 20, 1990 14:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT REPORTED THAT WHILE TAXIING ON THE WATERS OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY HE ENCOUNTERED A WAVE FROM A PASSING BOAT, CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO NOSE DOWN. THE PLT UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO REGAIN CONTROL WITH CYLIC INPUT; HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER NOSED OVER AND SUNK IN THE WATER. THE PLT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL WHILE TAXIING ON TURBULENT WATER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/20/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City STEVENSVILLE
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21666
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 5
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 1452 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 320
Weather Observation Facility ID BWI
Elevation of weather observation facility 146
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Not Reported
Lowest Ceiling Height 12000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 175
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 21 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40895
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:57PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4003K
NTSB Number BFO90LA047
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
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 R-22M
Aircraft Series Identifier R-22M
Aircraft Serial Number 1393M
Certified Max Gross Weight 1370
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 40
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THOMAS MCDERMOTT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9500 COASTAL HIGHWAY
Aircraft Owner City OCEAN CITY
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 21842
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name THOMAS MCDERMOTT
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 9500 COASTAL HIGHWAY
Operator City OCEAN CITY
Operator State MD
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 21842
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code W32
Departure City CLINTON
Departure State MD
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code W29
Destination City STEVENSVILLE
Destination State MD
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
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 --