Robinson R-22B N2301C
2 June 1992 · Las Vegas, Nevada, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 2 June 1992 at about 21:00 local time, a Robinson R-22B registered N2301C, operated by Fredrick G. Cleeves, was involved in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. 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 21:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- Nearest airport
- Private Helipad
- Coordinates
- 36.1598, -115.4308
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B
- Registration
- N2301C
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Fredrick G. Cleeves
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX92LA229
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A SUDDEN AND STRONG TAIL WIND COMPONENT DURING A CRITICAL PHASE OF FLIGHT WHICH WAS BEYOND THE CAPABILITY OF THE HELICOPTER. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CONFINED NATURE OF THE HELIPAD WITH HIGH OBSTACLES AND POWER LINES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS FROM THE PILOT AND TWO GROUND WITNESSES, THE HELICOPTER WAS DEPARTING FROM A PRIVATE HELIPAD AND DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB A SUDDEN 30 KNOT TAIL WIND WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SETTLE AND THE PILOT HAD TO USE THE REMAINING COLLECTIVE ENERGY TO BALLOON OVER A SET OF POWER LINES. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD AND ROLLED OVER. THE HELIPAD IS SURROUNDED ON THREE SIDES BY TALL TREES AND BUILDINGS, AND, TAKEOFFS MUST BE MADE TO THE EAST. BEFORE THE TAKEOFF BEGAN, THE PILOT SAID THE WINDS WERE FROM THE EAST AT ABOUT 5 KNOTS. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB THE WINDS SHIFTED FROM A HEAD WIND TO A TAIL WIND AND A 30 KNOT GUST AROSE. THE PILOT SUSPECTED THAT A MICROBURST HAD OCCURRED. TWO GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF WITH A LIGHT HEAD WIND AND AS IT BEGAN TO CLIMB A VERY STRONG GUST OF WIND CAME FROM BEHIND THE HELICOPTER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R-22B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Apr 1992 | Robinson R-22B | Carlsbad, California, United States | Civic Helicopters, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 May 1992 | Robinson R-22B | Sun Valley, California, United States | Complete Aviation Services | No injuries | - |
| 23 Dec 1992 | Robinson R-22B | Long Beach, California, United States | CSR Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jan 1992 | Robinson R-22B | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | Wilkes, Clyde H. | No injuries | - |
| 28 Mar 1992 | Robinson R-22B | Phillipsburg, Ohio, United States | M.g. Helicopters, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 1992 | Robinson R-22B | Barstow, California, United States | Helicopter Services of Nevada | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Mar 1992 | Bell 206BIII | Glenbrook, Nevada, United States | Smith Helicopter, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 2 Oct 1992 | Cessna 172P | Reno, Nevada, United States | Reno Flying Service | No injuries | - |
| 16 Mar 1992 | Piper PA-32-300 | Austin, Nevada, United States | Galen M. Reimer | No injuries | - |
| 1 Nov 1992 | Piper PA-22-150 | Reno, Nevada, United States | Nelson, Kevin | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 Nov 1992 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Pahrump, Nevada, United States | Woods, Elwood | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Apr 1992 | Cessna 150 | Mesquite, Nevada, United States | Roberti, Michael | No injuries | - |