Robinson R22 accident near Zapata, Texas, January 27, 1983
On January 27, 1983 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N9021J, was destroyed in an accident near Zapata, Texas. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- January 27, 1983 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Zapata, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N9021J · registry record · serial 0030
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS LANDED IN AN AREA OF DRY GRASS, 18 TO 28 INCHES TALL. THE PLT STATED THAT WITHIN 30 SEC AFTER A NORMAL APPROACH & TOUCHDOWN, THE PASSENGER NOTICED A FIRE AS HE WAS EXITING THE ACFT. THE PILOT THEN ROLLED THE THROTTLE ON IN AN ATTEMPT TO MOVE THE ACFT. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. AS HE APPLIED THROTTLE, THE PLT SAW FLAMES COMING UP THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ACFT. BOTH OCCUPANTS THEN ABANDONED THE AIRCRAFT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED APRX 12 MIN LATER. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE INDICATED THAT THE HOTTEST POINT OF THE FIRE WAS IN THE AREA OF THE GASCOLATOR. DURING THE FIRE, THE GASCOLATOR HAD MELTED ALLOWING FUEL TO DRAIN ONTO THE GROUND UNDER THE ENGINE. AN EXAM OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED NO LEAKS. THE EXHAUST TAILPIPE OPENING WAS 16 INCHES OFF THE GROUND. WHEN THE R22 THROTTLE IS ROLLED ON, THE ACCELERATOR PUMP INJECTS FUEL IN THE CARBURETOR & UNUSED FUEL IS THEN PUMPED OVERBOARD. ON 2/14/83, THE ACFT MANUAL WAS CHANGED TO WARN OF DANGERS OF LANDING IN TALL GRASS.
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: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,100 hours in all; 1,175 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 5,940 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 608 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 7, 1982; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Zapata TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from LRD, 60 miles away
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.