Robinson R-22 accident near Hillsboro, Oregon, March 21, 1982
On March 21, 1982 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N1KH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hillsboro, Oregon (Willamette Valley 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
- March 21, 1982 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hillsboro, Oregon · Willamette Valley · map
- 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
- N1KH · no longer on the register · serial 0184
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT WAS DEMONSTRATING A HOVERING AUTOROTATION TO THE STUDENT FROM APPROXIMATELY AN 18 INCH ALTITUDE. SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHDOWN, WHICH WAS LEVEL AND WITHOUT MOVEMENT IN ANY DIRECTION, THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO ROLL TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT REPORTED INSUFFICIENT CONTROL AVAILABLE TO STOP THE ROLL AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE RESULTED WHEN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE GROUND. UPON EXITING THE HELICOPTER THE PILOT NOTICED A STRONG WIND FROM THE RIGHT.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,500 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 8,500 as pilot in command; 800 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 150 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 150 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kitti Hawk, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 12 Hillsboro OR at 1:30 pm
- Destination: 12 Hillsboro OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 163°F (73°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from HIO, 5 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.