Robinson R-22 HP accident near Gardner, Kansas, September 9, 1982
On September 9, 1982 at about 4:10 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 HP (helicopter), registered N9078N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gardner, Kansas (Gardner Muni airport). It was an instructional 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
- September 9, 1982 · about 4:10 pm local time
- Place
- Gardner, Kansas · Gardner Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 HP · all R-22 HPs on the register
- Registration
- N9078N · no longer on the register · serial 0283
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A NON-CFI RATED PLT WAS GIVING INSTRUCTION TO AN AIRPLANE PLT THAT HAD LOGGED A TOTAL OF 6 HRS IN HELICOPTERS. THE STUDENT PLT WAS LIFTING TO A HOVER WHEN A GUST OF WIND STRUCK THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE RIGHT SIDE. THE STUDENT PILOT MOVED THE CYCLIC PITCH CONTROL TO THE LEFT & THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE PLT SAID THAT HIS EFFORT TO STOP THE ROLL WAS INEFFECTIVE.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,831 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 92 in the last 90 days; 1,630 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 63 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
- Operator: Corporate Air
The flight
- Departed from: K34 Gardner KS at 11:00 am
- Destination: K34 Gardner KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,440 ft by 110 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 176°F (80°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 am from TXD, 2 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.