Robinson R22 BETA N512HH
19 October 1996 · Halsey, Oregon, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 19 October 1996 at about 16:26 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N512HH, operated by Avia Flight Services Inc., was involved in an accident near Halsey, Oregon, 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 16:26
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Halsey, Oregon, United States
- Coordinates
- 44.3800, -123.1093
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA
- Registration
- N512HH
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Avia Flight Services Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Corvallis → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA97FA016
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain main rotor RPM, resulting in loss of control of the helicopter and collision with terrain. Factors included the pilot's lack of experience in helicopters, and interpersonal relationship problems between the pilot and his girlfriend.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The 21-year-old Brazilian pilot, a newly certificated private helicopter pilot, was a student in a commercial helicopter pilot training program. According to individuals at the school who knew the pilot, he was distraught over a breakup with his girlfriend in Brazil. These individuals stated that the pilot's attitude and behavior had changed over the previous two weeks (the time frame of the breakup), and that the pilot behaved unusually on the morning of the accident. The accident flight had not been scheduled in advance, and the pilot did not leave an itinerary. The accident occurred 11 nautical miles southeast of the departure airport in an area not normally used by the school on weekends. The crash site was in a level grass field, on an east-to-west path, parallel to an east-west road. No witnesses were identified. Investigators found no evidence of preimpact mechanical problems in the helicopter wreckage, but instrument indications of low main rotor RPM existed.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R22 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Dec 1996 | Robinson R22 BETA | Lakeport, California, United States | Resort Aviation | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Jun 1996 | Robinson R22 BETA | Paso Robles, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Apr 1996 | Robinson R22 BETA | Franklin, Louisiana, United States | Jerry Satterfield | No injuries | - |
| 7 Jun 1996 | Robinson R22 BETA | Santa Clarita, California, United States | Peter Lowery | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Dec 1996 | Robinson R22 HP | Islip, New York, United States | Atlantic Coast Helicopter | No injuries | - |
| 23 Mar 1996 | Robinson R22-BETA | Fairfield, New Jersey, United States | Skyline Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Aug 1996 | Piper PA-12 | Astoria, Oregon, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Oct 1996 | Garlick UH-1H | Detroit, Oregon, United States | Usfs | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 Aug 1996 | Grumman American AA-5A | Klamath Falls, Oregon, United States | Sweet, David, N. | No injuries | - |
| 12 Aug 1996 | Jonas EXEC 90 | Hermiston, Oregon, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Aug 1996 | Piper PA-20 | Mulino, Oregon, United States | James K. Warnock | No injuries | - |
| 22 Aug 1996 | Piper PA-38-112 | Sisters, Oregon, United States | Jack's Aircraft | Serious injuries | - |