Robinson R22 accident near Eden, Texas, September 5, 1982
On September 5, 1982 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N90744, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eden, Texas (Private Heliport airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- September 5, 1982 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Eden, Texas · Private Heliport · 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
- N90744 · registry record · serial 0250
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTD THAT HE LIFTED OFF TO A THREE FOOT HOVER, CHECKED HIS INSTRUMENT READINGS, THEN TOOK OFF. HE REPORTED CLIMBING TO 15 FEET TO CLEAR SOME BUSHES AND TWO FENCES THAT WERE IN HIS FLIGHT PATH. AS HE APPROACHED THE FIRST FENCE, THE HELICOPTER WAS HIT BY A STRONG GUST OF WIND CAUSING THE NOSE TO TURN RIGHT. THE ROTOR RPM DECAYED AND THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED AND HIT THE SECOND FENCE, THEN ROLLED OVER ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THAT THE WIND WAS GUSTING TO 15 KTS, THE TEMPERATURE WAS 90 DEGREES AND THE ELEVATION WAS 2000 FT.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 208 hours in all; 97 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 149 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 136 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 136 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-324-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Eden TX at 2:30 pm
- Destination: Eden TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 194°F (90°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:30 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.