Robinson R-22 accident near Nashua, New Hampshire, August 23, 1983
On August 23, 1983 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N9078Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nashua, New Hampshire. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1983 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Nashua, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N9078Z · registry record · serial 0288
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE INSTRUCTOR WATCHED THE THIRD LIFTOFF FROM IN FRONT OF THE HANGAR, HE OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER LIFT OFF THE GROUND RAPIDLY, ITS NOSE SWINGING QUICKLY TO THE RIGHT AS IT DID. DURING THE YAW, THE HELICOPTER LOST ALTITUDE RAPIDLY UNTIL THE RIGHT SKID HIT THE GROUND. AFTER BOUNCING BACK INTO THE AIR A RIGHT ROLL BEGAN ALONG WITH THE YAW AND CONTINUED UNTIL THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 464 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 238 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 955 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 22, 1983; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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 N9078Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC83FA221.