Robinson R22 accident near Buckman Springs, California, June 27, 1983
On June 27, 1983 at about 4:05 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N9065L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buckman Springs, California. 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
- June 27, 1983 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- Buckman Springs, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N9065L · no longer on the register · serial 0149
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF LIFT AND DESCENDED INTO A LAKE AFTER TAKEOFF. THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 29 LBS BELOW MAX GROSS WEIGHT AND THE FIELD ELEVATION FOR TAKEOFF WAS 4200 FT; ALSO THE CALCULATED HOVER CEILING OUT OF GROUND EFFECT. THE PLT HAD CLIMBED TO 4300 FT AND TURNED DOWNWIND IN A 10-15 KT WIND AND THE PLT THINKS HE 'MAY HAVE LOST TRANSITIONAL LIFT.' INVESTIGATION FAILED TO REVEAL ANY PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OF THE ACFT OR ENG THAT COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTEDTO THIS ACCIDENT.
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 multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,133 hours in all; 315 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 1,893 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,332 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 16, 1983; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Golden State Aviation
The flight
- Destination: L78 Jacumba CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.