- Date
- April 17, 1982, 12:01 local (20:01 UTC)
- Place
- Perris, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9043ERobinson R-22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 17, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820417009589A
- Case key
- 72198
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
After refueling with 12.9 gallons of fuel, the pilot took off with one passenger on board. The pilot stated that after lifting off with 104% prm, he began a normal shallow takeoff with 25 inches of manifold pressure. He reported reaching about 75 ft AGL and 50 KTS when he noticed the rotor and engine speed started dropping to approximately 100 RPM. He stated that more power was applied but the RPM continued to decrease. He stopped climbing, lowered the collective, and began descending. Subsequently, the helicopter touched down while still traveling at about 15 KTS with about 85% RPM. The main rotor severed the tail cone and the helicopter went over on its nose and to the right. The density altitude was about 2800 ft. during the investigation, an inspection and operational check of the engine revealed no preimpact failures.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9043E
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- R-22
- Airframe hours
- 92
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Walter Mack Podolece
- Registered owner
- Walter Mack Podolece
- Departed
- L65 · Perris, CA
- Destination
- 249 · Elsinore, CA
- Airport
- Perris Valley
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
- 51
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 6,000 total · 60 in this make and model · 5,900 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Temperature
- 167 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.