Robinson R22 BETA N854WT

Summary

On 25 March 2007 at about 13:45 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N854WT was involved in an accident near Laredo, Texas, 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.

Date

25 March 2007 at 13:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Laredo, Texas, United States

Coordinates

27.5495, -99.4601

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N854WT

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW07LA088

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power for undetermined reason. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 602-hour commercial helicopter pilot, who reported having accumulated 597-hours in the same make and model helicopter, reported that he was in herding cattle over as small creek at approximately 60 to 75 feet above the ground, when he experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot added that he tried to regain engine, but was unable. The pilot entered an autorotation to the rough and uneven terrain. The helicopter touched down on sloping terrain and the helicopter rolled over. The helicopter came to rest on its left side amidst brushes in the sloping terrain. There was no fire. An FAA inspector examined the wreckage of the helicopter after it was recovered to the operator's maintenance facility. The 2000 model helicopter was reported to have accumulated a total of 1,479.1 hours as of the time of its last 100-hour inspection on January 29, 2007. The pilot reported that he suspected that the loss of engine power was the result of a loss of fuel pressure. The fuel pump was found to be functional when tested on the helicopter. No anomalies were found with the engine that could have prevented normal engine operation. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined. The weather reported at the nearest reporting station located 14 miles west from the accident site, was reporting wind from 135 degrees at 7 knots, 8 miles visibility, temperature 71 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 66 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.09 inches of Mercury. The investigator-in-charge calculated the density altitude at 1,302 feet.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.