Robinson R22 BETA N269ME

Summary

On 22 January 1995 at about 17:45 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N269ME was involved in an accident near Placitas, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were 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.

Date

22 January 1995 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Placitas, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

35.3208, -106.4603

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N269ME

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Albuquerque → Tucumcari

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW95LA098

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT OPERATED BEYOND THE CLIMB CAPABILITY OF THE HELICOPTER, RESULTING IN INADEQUATE ALTITUDE AND TERRAIN CLEARANCE OVER MOUNTAINOUS RISING TERRAIN. A FACTOR WAS TURBULENCE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE TRANSITING A RIDGE LINE AT 8,100 FEET MSL, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE. THE HELICOPTER SETTLED INTO TREES ALONG THE SIDE OF A SLOPE. PRIOR TO THE LOSS OF CONTROL THE HELICOPTER WAS CLIMBING ABOUT 600 FEET PER MINUTE AT MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS POWER AT 150 TO 200 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. TURBULENCE RESULTED IN LOSS OF AIRSPEED AND ROTOR RPM DECREASED. SUBSEQUENTLY THE HELICOPTER SETTLED INTO TREES. HAD THE PILOTS CHOSEN A LESS DIRECT ROUTE TO THE NORTH THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.