Robinson R-22 accident near Mesa, Arizona, April 10, 1982
On April 10, 1982 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N90736, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mesa, Arizona. It was an instructional 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
- April 10, 1982 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N90736 · no longer on the register · serial 232
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LANDING IN A PRACTICE AREA THE INSTRUCTOR TOLD THE STUDENT TO PICK THE HELICOPTER UP TO A HOVER. THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF THE GROUND TO APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET AND YAWED TO THE RIGHT 45 DEGREES. AS THE INSTRUCTOR APPLIED LEFT PEDAL AND LOWERED COLLECTIVE THE STUDENT APPLIED LEFT CYCLIC. BEFORE THE INSTRUCTOR COULD APPLY CORRECTIVE ACTION THE HELICOPTER'S LEFT SKID STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,104 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 3,775 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 108 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Superstition Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: Mesa AZ at 1:40 pm
- Destination: Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 176°F (80°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.