Robinson R22 accident near Santa Ana, California, October 6, 1982
On October 6, 1982 at about 5:08 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N8358B, was destroyed in an accident near Santa Ana, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- October 6, 1982 · about 5:08 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Ana, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N8358B · registry record · serial 0302
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PLT WAS RATED IN FIXED WING ACFT, BUT IN THE HELICOPTER, HAD STUDENT PRIVILEGES ONLY. HE HAD OBTAINED APRX 37 HRS OF DUAL INSTRUCTION & 3 HRS OF SOLO TIME IN THE ROBINSON R22 HELICOPTER; HOWEVER, 1.3 HRS OF HIS SOLO TIME WAS LIMITED TO HOVER FLT ONLY. HE WAS NOT ENDORSED FOR UNSUPERVISED SOLO ON 10/6/82. HE TOOK OFF ON THE X-COUNTRY FLT TO COMMUTE TO HIS PLACE OF BUSINESS. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING LOW & FAST WHEN THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE COCKPIT. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE HELICOPTER WAS FLYING IN LEVEL FLT & THE ENG WAS RUNNING "FLAT OUT" UNTIL THE MAIN ROTOR SYS SEPARATED. THE HELICOPTER THEN ENTERED A STEEP DIVE, CRASHED & BURNED. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT MAST BUMPING & SEVERANCE OF THE MAIN ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT HAD OCCURRED. THE EXAM FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY FAILURE, MALFUNCTION OR ABNORMALITY PRIOR TO THE MAIN ROTOR SEPARATION.
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: 4,777 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 4,732 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Santa Ana CA at 10:01 am
- Destination: Ontario CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from SNA, 5 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.