Robinson R22 accident near San Jose, California, September 13, 1983
On September 13, 1983 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N8398Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Jose, California (Reid-Hillview airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- September 13, 1983 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- San Jose, California · Reid-Hillview · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N8398Q · no longer on the register · serial 0345
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PLT WAS CERTIFICATED FOR FIXED WING, SINGLE ENG, LAND ACFT, BUT WAS NOT RATED IN HELICOPTERS. WHILE ON A SOLO FLT, PRACTICING LANDINGS, HE WAS ON FINAL APCH TO LAND WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED A DECREASE IN ENG POWER & ROTOR RPM. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER WAS DAMAGED DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING. TOWER PERSONNEL STATED THAT THE ENGS & ROTORS WERE OPERATING AFTER THE LANDING. AN ENG RUN-UP & MAGNETO CHECK WERE CONDUCTED AFTER THE MISHAP WHICH SHOWED NORMAL OPERATION.
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: 88 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 39 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 205 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 9, 1983; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31L, 3,099 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:22 pm from RHV
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.