Amateur-built SCORPION TOO accident near Jerome, Idaho, March 25, 1982
On March 25, 1982 at about 11:45 pm local time, a amateur-built SCORPION TOO (helicopter), registered N222RP, was destroyed in an accident near Jerome, Idaho (Half Way Ranch airport). 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
- March 25, 1982 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Jerome, Idaho · Half Way Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SCORPION TOO SCORPION T
- Registration
- N222RP · registry record · serial 2508
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS FAMILIARIZING HIMSELF WITH THE HOME BUILT HELICOPTER. AFTER HOVERING IN ONE GENERAL AREA FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES, HE DECIDED TO HOVER TO AN OPEN AREA BY CROSSING A FENCE. HE STATED THAT HE ENTERED TRANSLATIONAL LIFT AT ABOUT 20 KNOTS WHILE HOVERING FORWARD. AT THIS TIME, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN ROLLING TO THE LEFT. FULL RIGHT CYCLIC FAILED TO CORRECT THE ROLL. THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO ROLL LEFT AND STRUCK THE GROUND WITH THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE AND LEFT SKID. FOR SOLO FLIGHT, THE SHIPS BATTERY MUST BE REPOSITIONED IN THE NOSE, AND LEAD WEIGHTS MUST BE ATTACHED TO THE RIGHT SKID FOR PROPER WEIGHT AND BALANCE CONTROL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD MADE THOSE ALTERATIONS PRIOR TO FLIGHT. AN ON-SITE INVESTIGATION INDICATED THAT THE BATTERY AND LEAD WEIGHTS WERE THROWN FREE OF THE HELICOPTER. INSUFFICIENT DATA WAS AVAILABLE TO ASCERTAIN THE AIRCRAFT'S CENTER-OF-GRAVITY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FLIGHT CONTROLS HAD RETAINED THEIR CONTINUITY. THE ELEVATION WAS ABOUT 3700 FT.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 349 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 227 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 27 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway TRW-133 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Half Way Ranch ID at 4:45 pm
- Destination: Half Way Ranch ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.
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.