- Date
- September 30, 1982, 13:07 local (18:07 UTC)
- Place
- Paige, TX
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N9063ZRobinson R-22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations
- Yes
- FAA report
- 19820930050749A
- Case key
- 72138
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
Following completion of the helicopter's annual inspection, the aircraft mechanic/pilot departed clover field in houston for the R22'S home base in austin, TX. One witness observed the helicopter in cruise flight, then saw a large piece separate from the helicopter. Other witnesses heard a loud noise and observed pieces falling from the helicopter. The main wreckage came to rest on the south side of highway 290 and exhibited evidence that a main rotor blade had contacted the tail boom. The tail boom and tail rotor were located on the opposite side of highway 290. No evidence of preimpact failure of the engine or flight controls could be identified. Visual meterological conditions were reported with winds from 130 degrees at 12 knots. Multiple electrical lines that cross highway 290 revealed no evidence of being struck by the helicopter. No abrupt maneuvers were observed by witnesses. Damage to the main rotor hub suggested low main rotor RPM when the main rotor struck the tail boom.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9063Z
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0147
- Airframe hours
- 34
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2C, 124 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry · Part 91
- Operator
- Tejas Helicopters
- Registered owner
- Tejas Helicopters
- Departed
- C · Houston, TX
- Destination
- C · Austin, TX
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
- 24
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 290 total · 85 in this make and model · 227 as pilot in command · 66 in the last 90 days · 32 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 189 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AUS, 45 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.