Bell 222U accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, December 10, 1983
On December 10, 1983 at about 3:12 pm local time, a Bell 222U (helicopter), registered N3177G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Albuquerque airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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
- December 10, 1983 · about 3:12 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Albuquerque
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 222U · all 222Us on the register
- Registration
- N3177G · no longer on the register · serial 47502
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS PARKED ON THE RAMP, FACING EAST. WHEN THE PLT CALLED THE TOWER FOR CLEARANCE, HE REQUESTED A WEST DEPARTURE. THE PLT RECEIVED A CLEARANCE & WAS ADVISED OF TRAFFIC ON THE WEST RAMP (BEHIND THE HELICOPTER) & WAS INSTRUCTED NOT TO OVERFLY THE TRAFFIC. THE PLT LIFTED OFF TO A HOVER & MADE A 90 DEG TURN TO SEE THE REFERENCED TRAFFIC. DURING THE TURN, HIS TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE RIGHT WING OF A CESSNA R182, N122MW. AFTER THE STRIKE, THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX SEPARATED & THE ACFT SPUN ABOUT 720 DEG BEFORE THE PLT CUT THE THROTTLES & EXECUTED A HOVERING AUTOROTATION.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 1,285 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 86 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 2, 1983; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,250 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming LTS-101-750 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PHX Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:47 pm from ABQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N3177G the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.