Robinson R-22 accident near Perris, California, April 17, 1982
On April 17, 1982 at about 8:01 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N9043E, was destroyed in an accident near Perris, California (Perris Valley airport). It was a personal 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 17, 1982 · about 8:01 pm local time
- Place
- Perris, California · Perris Valley
- 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
- N9043E · no longer on the register · serial R-22
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER REFUELING WITH 12.9 GALLONS OF FUEL, THE PILOT TOOK OFF WITH ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD. THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER LIFTING OFF WITH 104% PRM, HE BEGAN A NORMAL SHALLOW TAKEOFF WITH 25 INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE. HE REPORTED REACHING ABOUT 75 FT AGL AND 50 KTS WHEN HE NOTICED THE ROTOR AND ENGINE SPEED STARTED DROPPING TO APPROXIMATELY 100 RPM. HE STATED THAT MORE POWER WAS APPLIED BUT THE RPM CONTINUED TO DECREASE. HE STOPPED CLIMBING, LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE, AND BEGAN DESCENDING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN WHILE STILL TRAVELING AT ABOUT 15 KTS WITH ABOUT 85% RPM. THE MAIN ROTOR SEVERED THE TAIL CONE AND THE HELICOPTER WENT OVER ON ITS NOSE AND TO THE RIGHT. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 2800 FT. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, AN INSPECTION AND OPERATIONAL CHECK OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT FAILURES.
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
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 5,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 92 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L65 Perris CA at 12:00 pm
- Destination: 249 Elsinore CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.