Robinson R-22B accident near Spring, Texas, March 28, 1991
On March 28, 1991 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N8050B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spring, Texas. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POWER LOSS DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE, THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT, AND HIS FAILURE TO APPLY ADEQUATE CUSHIONING COLLECTIVE PITCH DURING THE FLARE SEGMENT OF THE AUTOROTATION. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER AUTOROTATION TECHNIQUE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 1991 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Spring, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B · all R-22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8050B · no longer on the register · serial 1136
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE, THE PILOT FAILED TO APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT IN AN EFFORT TO REGAIN POWER. DURING THE FORCED LANDING TO A RESIDENTIAL AREA THE STUDENT PILOT DID NOT APPLY APPROPRIATE COLLECTIVE CUSHIONING PITCH RESULTING IN THE HELICOPTER LANDING HARD AS THE TAIL ROTOR AND MAIN ROTOR STRUCK A TREE. TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT WERE 78/67 DEGREES RESPECTIVELY.
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
- Flight time: 233 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 144 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no 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
- Operator: Heliicopters International
The flight
- Departed from: DWH Tomball TX at 7:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Observation at 7:53 pm from DWH, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.