Robinson R-22 accident near Indian Hill, Ohio, October 21, 1982
On October 21, 1982 at about 7:44 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N9015R, was destroyed in an accident near Indian Hill, Ohio. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 1982 · about 7:44 pm local time
- Place
- Indian Hill, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N9015R · registry record · serial 0010
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS OBSERVED CIRCLING AN ATHLETIC FIELD. DURING THE THIRD PASS OVER THE FIELD IT WAS OBSERVED TO COME TO A NEAR HOVER IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A TAILROTOR SEPARATION. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A SAFETY NOTICE 12/4/81 & AGAIN ON 10/4/82 STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING ROTOR RPM & AIRSPEED. ON 10/27/82 NTSB ISSUED SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS A-82-143 & -144 TO SUSPEND THE AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE OF THE R-22 UNTIL (1) MAIN ROTOR SYST STABILITY/STALL CHARACTERISTICS & M/R RPM DECAY RATES ARE DETERMINED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE MARGINS OF SAFETY & TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH NORMAL PLT REACTION TIMES, & UNTIL THE M/R SYSTEM IS DETERMINED TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH 14CFR27.661. THE BOARD RECOMMENDED A STUDY BE CONDUCTED TO VERIFY THAT ADEQUATE ENG TORQUE IS AVAILABLE TO THE M/R SYSTEM TO RECOVER RPM SHOULDA RAPID DECAY OF RPM OCCUR DURING FLT. AN AD WAS ISSUED REQUIRING RAISING THE ACTUATION RPM SETTING FOR THE LOW RPM WARNING LIGHT & REQUIRING THAT A LOWROTOR RPM WARNING LIGHT BE INSTALLED ON A R-22'S.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,662 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 825 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-27A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C Chillicothe OH at 2:25 pm
- Destination: C Cincinnati OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 115°F (46°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.