Robinson R-22 accident near Antrim, New Hampshire, July 19, 1983
On July 19, 1983 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N8354Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Antrim, New Hampshire (Hawthorne 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
- July 19, 1983 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Antrim, New Hampshire · Hawthorne
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N8354Z · no longer on the register · serial 299
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER MADE A STEEP APPROACH, SETTLED WITH POWER AND MADE A HARD LANDING. THIS WAS A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLT. THESTUDENTS TOTAL TIME AMOUNTED TO 4 HOURS, ALL IN TYPE. ACCORDING TO THE CFI, WHILE ON THE FOURTH APPROACH ON SHORT FINAL AT 75 FT AGL, THE STUDENT WAS TOLD TO INCREASE THE AIRSPEED. AT THAT TIME, A LATERAL VIBRATION WAS FELT AND THE ACFT STARTED TO SETTLE. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL BUT THE LANDING WAS HARD, DAMAGING THE LANDING GEAR AND FRAME.
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: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 545 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 126 in the last 90 days; 424 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 786 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 13, 1983; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N8354Z 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.