# NTSB ATL85FA067: Robinson R-22 Alpha, N8475K, Huntsville, AL, December 25, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 25, 1984, 16:05 local (22:05 UTC)
- Place: Huntsville, AL
- Coordinates: 34.569561, -86.979896 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5696&lon=-86.9799&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 2, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6586
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85FA067
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6586/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85FA067

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - rotor system,main rotor - diverged
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, maneuvering
  - fuselage,cabin - blade strike
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8475K-2013-06-07), registration cancelled 2013-06-07, S/N 0391, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R-22 ALPHA
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 ALPHA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-alpha) (registry code 7640104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 391
- Airframe hours: 3774
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19841225068339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841225068339A), Dec 25, 1984: Robsin R22ALPHA, Huntsville, AL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Main rotor blade hit left side of cockpit and left cyclic stick. Cyclic had to be full left to be in path of rotor

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.

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