Robinson R22 accident near Maricopa, Arizona, March 4, 1992
On March 4, 1992 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N8413Q, was destroyed in an accident near Maricopa, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
DESTRUCTIVE MAST BUMPING FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON(S).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 4, 1992 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Maricopa, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N8413Q · no longer on the register · serial 0354
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ON FLAT DESERT TERRAIN ALONG A DIRECT COURSE LINE BETWEEN THE DEPARTURE & DESTINATION AIRPORTS. THE TAIL BOOM HAD SEPARATED IN FLIGHT. DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH A LOW 'G' EVENT RESULTING IN A RAPID RIGHT ROLL & SUBSEQUENT MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRIKE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CABIN. THE DESIGN STRENGTH OF THE TAIL CONE'S ATTACHMENT POINTS WAS EXCEEDED. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S PAPER ON LOW 'G' MAST BUMPING, BOTH LATERAL CONTROL AND DAMPING IN ROLL ARE PROPORTIONAL TO G-LOAD; IN A TWO G PULLUP THEY BOTH DOUBLE, AND IN A ZERO G PUSHOVER THEY BOTH GO TO ZERO. WHEN THEY ARE ZERO, THE PILOT HAS NO LATERAL CONTROL, AND THE HELICOPTER HAS NO DAMPING IN ROLL. THE PILOT WAS REPORTEDLY KEENLY AWARE THAT ONE SHOULD NOT PLACE THE R22 INTO A NEGATIVE 'G' SITUATION, OR EVEN A LOW 'G' SITUATION, AND WAS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE R22'S STRUCTURE AND SYSTEMS.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 31,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,128 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1991; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: P19 Chandler AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 9 knots, gusting 20
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.