Robinson R22 accident near Austin, Texas, July 2, 1989
On July 2, 1989 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N888CG, was destroyed in an accident near Austin, Texas (Austin Executive Airpark 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 PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN A SITUATION WHERE HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: HIGH TEMPERATURE, TAILWIND, AND TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1989 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Austin, Texas · Austin Executive Airpark · 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
- N888CG · no longer on the register · serial 536
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE HELICOPTER WAS AT ABOUT 300' & 30 KTS, WHEN THE 'LOW RPM' LIGHT & HORN WERE ACTIVATED. HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE & APPLIED THROTTLE, BUT SAID THERE WAS NO INCREASE IN POWER. ALSO, HE NOTED THAT THE 'ENGINE AND RPM WERE DOWN TO 70-80% AND STILL MARRIED. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE REALIZED THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALT TO RECOVER AND APPLIED FULL COLLECTIVE AS THE HELICOPTER HIT THE TOPS OF TREES. ADDITIONALLY, HE SAID THAT AT NO TIME DID THE OIL PRESSURE OR ALTERNATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATE. APRX 15 MI ESE AT AUSTIN, THE 1550 CDT WIND WAS FROM 170 DEG AT 15 GUSTING 20 KTS & THE TEMP WAS 96 DEG. AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT, THE HELICOPTER RPRTDLY HAD A TAILWIND.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 645 hours in all; 93 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3R3 Austin TX at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from AUS, 15 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.
Other NTSB records under N888CG 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.