Robinson R-22 N90218
23 November 1982 · Alabaster, Alabama, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 23 November 1982 at about 16:30 local time, a Robinson R-22 registered N90218, operated by Larry Cottingham, was involved in an accident near Alabaster, Alabama, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.
The record
- Date
- at 16:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Alabaster, Alabama, United States
- Nearest airport
- Shelby County
- Coordinates
- 33.2198, -86.8195
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22
- Registration
- N90218
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Larry Cottingham
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Alabaster → Hueytown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL83FA044
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.
Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, HE NOTICED THE RPM'S BEGAN FALLING. HE STATED THAT HE INCREASED THE THROTTLE AND LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE, BUT THE RPM'S CONTINUED TO DECREASE UNTIL THE LOW RPM WARNING HORN CAME ON. AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING WAS MADE. DURING TOUCHDOWN, WHILE THE HELICOPTER STILL HAD FORWARD SPEED, THE SKIDS DUG INTO THE GROUND AND THE TAIL MOVED UP INTO THE PATH OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THE HELICOPTER THEN TURNED AND CAME TO REST ON ITS SIDE. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THE AIR-FILTER CARTRIDGE WAS COVERED WITH OIL, DIRT AND OTHER CONTAMINENTS; THE 4 V-DRIVE BELTS WERE FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS AND WERE OF DIFFERENT LENGTHS; THE ENGINE DRIVE ACTUATOR (PULLEY) VALLEYS WERE DEEPLY GROOVED AND WORN, THE EXHAUST MUFFLER HAD PIECES OF THE FLARE TUBE FLOATING LOOSE INSIDE THE MUFFLER. DURING A TEST RUN, THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY. A TEARDOWN OF THE TRANSMISSION REVEALED NO PREIMPACT FAILURES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R-22 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Feb 1982 | Robinson R-22 | Ormand Beach, Florida, United States | Daytona Beach Aviation | Fatal | 2 |
| 30 Sep 1982 | Robinson R-22 | Paige, Texas, United States | Tejas Helicopters | Fatal | 1 |
| 20 Nov 1982 | Robinson R-22 | Laurel, Maryland, United States | New Haven Helicopter Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 21 Apr 1982 | Robinson R-22 | Vero Beach, Florida, United States | Pro-Flite of Vero, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Sep 1982 | Robinson R-22 | Austin, Texas, United States | Tejas Helicopters Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Oct 1982 | Robinson R-22 | Indian Hill, Ohio, United States | Colerain Investment | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Aug 1982 | Grumman G164B | Opp, Alabama, United States | Robert Dirk Merrill | No injuries | - |
| 13 Sep 1982 | Piper PA-25 | Red Level, Alabama, United States | Charles Lawson | No injuries | - |
| 2 Mar 1982 | Smith Mini | Brownsboro, Alabama, United States | Al Huff | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Jun 1982 | Cessna 182B | Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States | Jerry T. Montgomery | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Mar 1982 | Beechcraft C24R | Mobile, Alabama, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 16 Sep 1982 | Grumman G-164B | Society Hill, Alabama, United States | James H. Morris | No injuries | - |