Robinson R-22 accident near Vero Beach, Florida, April 21, 1982
On April 21, 1982 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N9033B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vero Beach, Florida (Vero Beach Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- April 21, 1982 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Vero Beach, Florida · Vero Beach Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N9033B · no longer on the register · serial 0053
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS AIR TAXIED TO THE FUEL PUMP FOR REFUELING. THE AIRCREW REMAINED IN THE HELICOPTER WHILE THE LINEMAN SERVICED THE FUEL TANK. AFTER REFUELING AND STARTING THE ENGINE, THE INSTRUCTOR WAS AT THE CONTROLS WHILE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE PUMPS. HE REPORTED HEARING A "THUD" WHEN THE HELICOPTER HAD MOVED ABOUT 10 FEET FROM THE PUMPS AND THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD JAMMED. THE PILOTS THOUGHT THEY HAD EXPERIENCED SOME MALFUNCTION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM. THEY REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER GYRATED LEFT AND RIGHT BEFORE CRASHING AFTER THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT DURING REFUELING OPERATIONS, A GROUND WIRE WAS NORMALLY CLIPPED TO A TAB ON THE LANDING SKID. THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR THE FLIGHT SCHOOL BELIEVED THAT THE GROUND WIRE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN REMOVED. HOWEVER, THE LINEMAN WAS POSITIVE HE HAD REMOVED THE GROUND WIRE, AND A WITNESS STATED NO WIRE WAS ATTACHED. NO PREIMPACT FAILURE WAS FOUND.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 98 in this make and model; 250 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 212 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pro-Flite Of Vero, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: VRB Vero Beach FL at 2:40 pm
- Destination: VRB Vero Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 190°F (88°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from VRB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N9033B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.