Robinson R22 accident near Alpine, TX
On September 5, 1992, a Robinson R22 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Alpine, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 5, 1992
- Place
- Alpine, TX
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 30.384°N, 103.783°W
- NTSB ID
- 20170710X10920
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn September 5, 1992, at approximately 1630 central daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, N4073S, was destroyed when it collided with mountainous terrain near Alpine, Texas. The helicopter departed David Wayne Hooks Airport, Houston, Texas, at approximately 1009 with a final destination of Marfa, Texas. A company flight plan had been filed. The pilot sustained serious injuries and the rated passenger received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. Interviews with the pilot and followup investigations conducted by the investigator in charge (IIC) and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)inspector revealed the facts in this paragraph. The pilot weighed about 160 pounds, and the passenger weighed about 190 pounds. Usable fuel was 29.7 gallons with a basic empty weight of 856.2 pounds. About 5 pounds of baggage were on board. One enroute fuel stop was made at Sonora, Texas, at approximately 1315 and 28.9 gallons of fuel was purchased. The helicopter departed Sonora, Texas, at approximately 1345 with a computed takeoff weight of approximately 1,409 pounds. Interviews conducted by the FAA inspector and the IIC with the company and the pilot revealed the facts in this paragraph. The pilot remembered the original departure clearance and the takeoff. He recalled awakening on the mountain during the night time and setting several "fires to attract attention and the fires getting out of control." Upon seeing the lights of a city, he traveled on foot in that direction and remembered two sunrises and locating a poo
Probable cause
Failure by the pilot-in-command, for unknown reasons, to maintain sufficient altitude to clear surrounding terrain. Factors were mountainous terrain and high density altitude.
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Browse: Texas · Robinson aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
