Date:	Friday 26 February 1982
Time:	08:00
Type:	Robinson R22
Owner/operator:	Tejas Helicopters Of Austin
Registration:	N9061Z
MSN:	0145
Total airframe hrs:	119 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming O-320-A2C
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Category:	Accident
Location:	San Marcos, Texas -   United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Executive
Departure airport:	Bird's Nest Airport (FAA: 6R4) Austin, Texas
Destination airport:	San Antonio, Texas (SAT/KSAT)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE HELICOPTER WAS OBSERVED ROTATING IN A COUNTER CLOCKWISE MOTION. A SMALL EXPLOSION WAS SEEN AT THE TAIL SECTION WITH PIECES FLYING OFF. THE OUTBOARD SECTIONS OF THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES WERE FOUND ABOUT 800 FEET FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURES INDICATES A HIGHLY ABNORMAL STRESS CONDITION WAS PRODUCED IN THE TAIL ROTOR. THE AUSTIN FSS WAS REPORTING WIND GUSTS OF 27 KNOTS.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

ROTOR SYSTEM,TAIL ROTOR BLADE..OVERLOAD
ROTOR SYSTEM,TAIL ROTOR BLADE..FAILURE,TOTAL
ROTOR SYSTEM,TAIL ROTOR BLADE..UNDETERMINED
ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM,TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX(90 DEG)..OVERLOAD
ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM,TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX(90 DEG)..FAILURE,TOTAL
ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM,TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX(90 DEG)..UNDETERMINED

Contributing Factors:
WEATHER CONDITION..GUSTS

1. NTSB Identification: FTW82FA071 at https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20020917X02098&key=1
2. FAA: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?omni=Home-N-Number&nNumberTxt=9061Z
3. http://www.griffin-helicopters.co.uk/accidentdetails.aspx?accidentkey=1267
4. http://planecrashmap.com/plane/tx/N9061Z/

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
24-Oct-2008 10:30	ASN archive	Added
16-Sep-2016 18:35	Dr.John Smith	Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, ]
21-Dec-2016 19:23	ASN Update Bot	Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency, ]