Robinson R22 accident near Richmond, California, June 29, 1992
On June 29, 1992 at about 7:42 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N83858, was destroyed in an accident near Richmond, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A DIVERGENCE OF THE MAIN ROTOR FROM ITS NORMAL PLANE OF ROTATION FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON(S) WHICH RESULTED IN ROTOR CONTACT TO THE TAILBOOM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1992 · about 7:42 pm local time
- Place
- Richmond, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N83858 · no longer on the register · serial 0337
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT HAD RECORDED HER PRIMARY FLIGHT LESSON ON A TAPE RECORDER. AFTER REACHING THE PRACTICE AREA, THE CFI INSTRUCTED THE STUDENT TO TURN 180 DEG LEFT. THE STUDENT COMPLIED AND PERFORMED A SHALLOW BANK TURN. SECONDS LATER, WHILE CRUISING AT 2,200 FT, THE CFI BEGAN TALKING. IN MIDSENTENCE AN UNDETERMINED EVENT OCCURRED WHICH INTERRUPTED HIS SPEECH. A WIND-LIKE BACKGROUND NOISE STARTED, AND THE STUDENT EXCLAIMED 'HELP.' RADAR DATA CONFIRMED WITNESS REPORTS THAT THE TAIL BOOM AND M/R HAD SEPARATED IN LEVEL FLT. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE INDICATED MAST BUMPING HAD OCCURRED, A M/R BLADE CRUSHED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE INBOARD TAIL CONE, AND THE ENTIRE MAST WITH ATTACHED M/R BLADES BROKE OUT OF THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE OUTBOARD TAIL BOOM AND ROTOR ASSEMBLY HAVE NOT BEEN FOUND. EVIDENCE OF A MAIN ROTOR BLADE DIVERGENCE WAS FOUND. SPECTRUM ANALYSIS OF THE TAPE REVEALED NO ANOMALIES UNTIL THE CFI'S VOICE WAS TERMINATED. WITHIN 2 SECONDS THE ROTOR SPEED APPEARED TO SIGNIFICANTLY OSCILLATE AND ABRUPTLY END.
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: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command; 1,800 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,021 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 1992; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OAK Oakland CA at 7:25 pm
- Destination: OAK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from NGZ, 13 miles away
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.
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.