- Date
- December 25, 1984, 16:05 local (22:05 UTC)
- Place
- Huntsville, AL
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8475KRobinson R-22 Alpha
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 2, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19841225068339A
- Case key
- 6586
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
A popping sound then a loud noise and a puff of smoke preceded the helicopter's fall to the ground, stated a 12 year old boy who said he saw the accident. Examination of the helicopter failed to disclose any trace of fire. However one main rotor blade contacted the left front of the cockpit and wrapped around under the helicopter. The wreckage was scattered over an area 300 x 700 ft. the passenger had about 65 hours of flight but no certificate and no known helicopter time. The PIC had previously had his commercial asel certificate revoked for giving flight instruction in a small airplane without having a CFI rating. The PIC had reapplied for and had been reissued his commercial certificate. He had since upgraded his certificate to an ATP for amel, commercial for asel, ases, ames and helicopter. He also had a CFI rating for asmel but not for helicopter. His flt experience could not be accurately determined because of conflicting data in airman records and pilot logs.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8475K
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22 Alpha
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 391
- Airframe hours
- 3,774
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 124 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Executive Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · November 9, 1984 · 71 hours before
- Departed
- DCU · Decatur, AL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 36 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HSY, 16 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.