Robinson R22A N85594
7 September 1990 · Beatty, Nevada, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 7 September 1990 at about 16:45 local time, a Robinson R22A registered N85594 was involved in an accident near Beatty, Nevada, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Beatty, Nevada, United States
- Coordinates
- 37.0903, -116.7892
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22A
- Registration
- N85594
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Observation
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX90LA317
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN INADEQUATE CRUISE ALTITUDE AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, RISING TERRAIN, AND THE PILOT'S DELAYED AND IMPROPER USE OF THE COLLECTIVE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT PROVIDED HIS PASSENGER WITH A LOW ALTITUDE AERIAL SURVEY OF A RACE CAR ROUTE WHICH INVOLVED FLYING OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN BETWEEN 100 AND 150 ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. DURING THE FLIGHT THE HELICOPTER ENTERED AN AREA OF RAPIDLY RISING TERRAIN, AND THE LOW ROTOR RPM WARNING HORN SOUNDED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY LOWER THE COLLECTIVE. HE STATED, HOWEVER, THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN ROTOR RPM WHILE MANEUVERING THE HELICOPTER IN A LEFT TURN TO REVERSE COURSE. THE PILOT FURTHER INDICATED THAT THE HELICOPTER DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED SO HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATIVE DESCENT. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD ON THE SLOPING TERRAIN AND ROLLED OVER. THE CRASH SITE'S ELEVATION WAS 6,300 FEET MSL. THE CALCULATED DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS AT LEAST 9,000 FEET.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R22A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 May 1990 | Robinson R22A | Torrance, California, United States | Rolling Hills Aviation, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 23 Jun 1990 | Robinson R22A | Pinon Hills, California, United States | Sundance Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 10 Feb 1991 | Robinson R22A | Piru, California, United States | Watson Helicopters Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 26 Oct 1989 | Robinson R22A | Simi Valley, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Jan 1989 | Robinson R22A | Santa Barbara, California, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 11 Jul 1991 | Robinson R22A | El Cerrito, California, United States | Para Flite, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jan 1990 | Cessna 172A | Reno, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Mar 1990 | Cessna 150 | Valmy, Nevada, United States | Arthur H. MC Ewen | Serious injuries | - |
| 26 Nov 1990 | Cessna 172 | Tonopah, Nevada, United States | Double Eagle Aviation Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 23 Mar 1990 | Piper PA18-160 | Reno, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Dec 1990 | Cessna 172L | McDermitt, Nevada, United States | Benjaman, James A. | No injuries | - |
| 20 Apr 1990 | Cessna 172N | Minden, Nevada, United States | Mercury Air Center | Minor injuries | - |