Robinson R22 N4073S
5 September 1992 · Alpine, Texas, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 5 September 1992 at about 21:30 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N4073S, operated by Helicopters International, was involved in an accident near Alpine, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Alpine, Texas, United States
- Coordinates
- 30.3836, -103.7833
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22
- Registration
- N4073S
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 1991
- Operator
- Helicopters International
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Sonora → Marfa
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW92FA224
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
Failure by the pilot-in-command, for unknown reasons, to maintain sufficient altitude to clear surrounding terrain. Factors were mountainous terrain and high density altitude.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
While on a cross-country flight over mountainous terrain, the helicopter impacted the side of a mountain at 6,800 feet, about 90 feet below the crest. The investigation revealed that the tail rotor hit the side of the mountain first. Wreckage was distributed down the side of the mountain to about the 6,500-foot level. Density altitude, calculated using a pressure altitude of 6,800 feet and an estimated temperature of 85 degrees, was 9,900 feet. The helicopter's gross weight was calculated to be 1,229 pounds. Maximum gross weight for out-of-ground effect hover performance at 9,900 density altitude was 1,210 pounds. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of pre-impact flight control malfunction or airframe or system failure. The engine performed within manufacturer specifications and certification standards during a postaccident test run. The pilot had no memory of the accident, there were no witnesses, and the phase of operation was unknown.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R22 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 May 1992 | Robinson R22 BETA | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Volar Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 4 Mar 1992 | Robinson R22 | Maricopa, Arizona, United States | Wesley F. Morris | Fatal | 1 |
| 5 Oct 1992 | Robinson R22 BETA | Naples, Florida, United States | The London Co. | Minor injuries | - |
| 29 Jun 1992 | Robinson R22 | Richmond, California, United States | Sierra Academy of Aeronautics | Fatal | 2 |
| 30 Sep 1992 | Robinson R22-B | Martinez, California, United States | Helicopter Adventures Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Sep 1992 | Robinson R22 | Ojai, California, United States | Giffoni, KIM | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jan 1992 | Beechcraft B19 | Bonham, Texas, United States | ARI BEN Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jan 1992 | Alvin D Campbell KR-2 | San Marcos, Texas, United States | Alvin D. Campbell | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Jan 1992 | Cessna 205A | Spring, Texas, United States | Owens, Grady | No injuries | - |
| 22 Jan 1992 | Mooney M20J | Austin, Texas, United States | Kissock, Darryl C. | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 Jan 1992 | Piper PA-28-140 | Denton, Texas, United States | Thomas A. Tweeddale | No injuries | - |
| 31 Jan 1992 | Cessna 150M | Canyon Lake, Texas, United States | Aviacion de Los Andes | Minor injuries | - |