Robinson R-22B N23039
5 July 1991 · Phoenix, Arizona, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 5 July 1991 at about 23:39 local time, a Robinson R-22B registered N23039, operated by Skyview Traffic Watch, was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 23:39
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Phoenix, Arizona, United States
- Coordinates
- 33.3994, -111.6309
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B
- Registration
- N23039
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Skyview Traffic Watch
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Observation
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Scottsdale → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX91FA288
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
A DIVERGENCE OF THE MAIN ROTOR FROM ITS NORMAL PLANE OF ROTATION FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, WHICH RESULTED IN ROTOR CONTACT TO THE COCKPIT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WITNESSES REPORTED OBSERVING THE R22 IN CRUISE FLIGHT BETWEEN 300 & 500 FT AGL WHEN THEY HEARD A LOUD BANG & OBSERVED PIECES FALLING FROM THE HELICOPTER. THE HELICOPTER CRASHED INTO A RESIDENCE & INITIATED A FIRE THAT GUTTED THE INTERIOR OF THE RESIDENCE & DESTROYED THE HELICOPTER WRECKAGE. PIECES OF THE LEFT SKID, WINDSCREEN BUBBLE & THE LEFT DOOR WERE LOCATED 1400 FT FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, WHO HAD ACCUMULATED 500 HRS IN THE R22 AND WAS CRUISING TO WORK TO PERFORM HIS AERIAL TRAFFIC WATCH REPORTING DUTIES, WAS FATALLY INJURED. REMNANTS OF MODEL ROCKETS WERE LOCATED IN A VACANT LOT NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE MODEL ROCKETS WERE CHEMICALLY EXAMINED TO DETERMINE IF A SMUDGE ON THE HELICOPTER WINDSCREEN MATCHED THE RED SURFACE OF THE ROCKETS. THE SMUDGE DID NOT MATCH THE MATERIAL OF THE ROCKETS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R-22B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jul 1991 | Robinson R-22B | White Plains, New York, United States | Engle Helicopter, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jun 1991 | Robinson R-22B | Corvallis, Oregon, United States | Pacific RIM Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 11 Jan 1991 | Robinson R-22B | Torrance, California, United States | Rolling Hills Aviation, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Sep 1991 | Robinson R-22B | Rio Vista, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Robinson R 22B | Carmel, Indiana, United States | Clayton W. Farrar | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 Apr 1991 | Robinson R-22B | Piru, California, United States | RAY Klein | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jul 1991 | Grumman G-164B | Arizona City, Arizona, United States | Al-Don Dusting SVC., Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 31 Jul 1991 | Cessna 177 | Scottsdale, Arizona, United States | Michael P. Turner | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172N | Sedona, Arizona, United States | Aerovision, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1991 | Eagle DW1 | Poston, Arizona, United States | Michael Morris | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 Aug 1991 | Experimental DSA-1 | Kingman, Arizona, United States | James D. Janson | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Aug 1991 | Cessna 402C | Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States | Sierra Nevada Airways | No injuries | - |