# Accident 19810503022229A: Robsin R22, Balmorhea, TX, May 3, 1981

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 3, 1981, 17:30 local time
- Place: Balmorhea, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.9824° N, 103.7450° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Balmorhea, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9824&lon=-103.7450&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9043Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9043Y-2013-08-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 (registry code 7640102, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,937 total, 111 in this make and model, 235 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW81DQD19](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81DQD19) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810503022229A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

RPM DECAYED DURING HOVER. NEARBY STORM INCREASED SURFACE WIND, CREATING DOWNDRAFT. MAIN ROTOR STRUCK GROUND.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW81DQD19](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81DQD19), May 3, 1981: Robinson R-22 (N9043Y), Balmorhea, TX, substantial damage

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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