Robinson R22 accident near Ada, Oklahoma, May 24, 1982
On May 24, 1982 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N90763, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ada, Oklahoma (Ada Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 1982 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Ada, Oklahoma · Ada Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N90763 · registry record · serial 266
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS WAS A COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATION CHECK FLIGHT FOR THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND. AFTER COMPLETING NORMAL HOVERING MANEUVERS, THE EXAMINER INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO EXECUTE A HOVERING AUTOROTATION OVER A LEVEL AREA OF GRASS. THE PILOT ROLLED THE THROTTLE OFF ON A COUNT OF THREE. HE CORRECTED FOR TORQUE BY APPLYING RIGHT PEDAL, BUT DID NOT CORRECT FOR TRANSLATING TENDENCY WITH RIGHT CYCLIC. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN IN A LEFT-SKID-LOW ATTITUDE WHILE DRIFTING LEFT. THE LEFT SKID DUG INTO WET SOFT TERRAIN AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED TO THE LEFT. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE LEFT SKID FAILED. THE EXAMINER STATED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO REACT TO THE PILOT'S TECHNIQUE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,964 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 211 in the last 90 days; 2,728 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 148 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Airada Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: ADH Ada OK at 12:15 pm
- Destination: ADH Ada OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 154°F (68°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 12:20 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N90763 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number FTW82DA192.