Robinson R22 accident near Frenchman'Bayou, Arkansas, August 21, 1984
On August 21, 1984 at about 11:15 am local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N9073Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Frenchman'Bayou, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- August 21, 1984 · about 11:15 am local time
- Place
- Frenchman'Bayou, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N9073Y · no longer on the register · serial 0230
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED DURING AUTOROTATION INTO A SOY BEAN FIELD AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PLT WAS A STUDENT WHO DID NOT HAVE AUTHORIZATION TO FLY NOR THE PROPER CERTIFICATE AND ENDORSEMENT FROM THE CFI. THE ACFT ENGINE STOPPED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT SAID THE FUEL GAGES READ ABOUT 1/2 FULL PRIOR TO THE TAKEOFF. AFTER ABOUT 1 AND 1/2 HOURS OF FLT THE ENGINE QUIT.
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: student
- Flight time: 18 hours in all; 18 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 862 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M14 Kennett MO at 10:00 am
- Destination: M-14 Kenneth MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.
Other NTSB records under N9073Y 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.