# NTSB FTW81FA068: Robinson R22, El Paso, TX, April 9, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 9, 1981
- Place: El Paso, TX · EL PASO, TX
- Location: 31.7587° N, 106.4869° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of El Paso, TX, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7587&lon=-106.4869&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 2, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126610
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FA068
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FA068

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-0004   81/4/9    EL PASO,TX          ROBINSON R22        CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             CERTIFICATE OTHER, AGE
        TIME - 1430                    C-GBPK              PX-  1  0  0  FERRY                     40, 471 TOTAL HOURS, 21
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - EL PASO INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LORDSBURG,NM                EL PASO,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      81
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          220                                                       3
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- OBSD DSNDG W LOW ROTOR RPM.APRX 21HRS IN R22,ALL OTR TIME IN TURB PWRD HEL.D/A APRX 6300FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: C-GBPK (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R22
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: El Paso Intl

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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