Robinson R-22 HP N83745

Summary

On 5 May 1985 at about 21:30 local time, a Robinson R-22 HP registered N83745 was involved in an accident near San Angelo, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 May 1985 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

San Angelo, Texas, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Robinson R-22 HP

Registration

N83745

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Angelo → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW85FA207

2 people died.

A LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE ATP PILOT WAS PREPARING FOR HIS CFI HELO CHECK FLIGHT. DUAL FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE INSTALLED BEFORE DEPARTURE. THE PASSENGER HAD NO RECORDED FLIGHT EXPERIENCE. ABOUT 8 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE THE HELICOPTER'S MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK AND SEVERED THE TAILBOOM. THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED IN ABOUT A 135 DEGREE ANGLE OF BANK. THE IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP RESULTED IN A TRAIL OF WRECKAGE AND PERSONAL ARTICLES ABOUT 1200 FEET LONG. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED EVIDENCE OF MAIN ROTOR BLADE DIVERGENCE, SEVERENCE OF THE TAIL BOOM, AND SEPARATION OF THE MAIN ROTOR MAST AT THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION PRIOR TO THE IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.