Amateur-built 133 accident near Fremont, California, May 8, 1982
On May 8, 1982 at about 1:30 am local time, a amateur-built 133 (helicopter), registered N19NS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fremont, California (Fremont airport). 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
- May 8, 1982 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Fremont, California · Fremont · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 133
- Registration
- N19NS · registry record · serial 3839
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT, BUILDER OF THE HELICOPTER WAS ON A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WITH AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT (IP). THE STUDENT HAD ABOUT 71 HOURS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL WHILE THE IP HAD 18 HOURS. AFTER MAKING TWO LANDINGS, A DESCENDING TURN WAS MADE TO A DOWNWIND AT ABOUT 15 FT AGL TO DEMONSTRATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AIRSPEED AND GROUND SPEED. AFTER THAT, THE IP INSTRUCTED THE STUDENT TO FOLLOW THROUGH AS HE (THE IP) WAS GOING TO MAKE A CLIMBING TURN TO POSITION THE HELICOPTER FOR A NORMAL LANDING PATTERN. DURING THE CLIMB, THE IP FELT INTERFERENCE ON THE CONTROLS FROM THE STUDENT. THE AIRSPEED DROPPED NEAR ZERO AND THE HELICOPTER WAS ABOUT TO START SETTLING WITH POWER. REPORTEDLY, THE IP OVERPOWERED THE CONTROLS AND STARTED A RECOVERY, BUT NOT IN TIME TO AVOID CONTACTING THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD, TILTED TO THE LEFT, AND A MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM. THE IP SAID THE STUDENT WAS RELUCTANT TO RELEASE THE CONTROLS WHEN INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,562 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 1,562 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 96 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rw 133 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Q59 Fremont CA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: Q59 Fremont CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
Other NTSB records under N19NS 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.