Robinson R22 BETA N4187W

Summary

On 27 August 2014 at about 19:30 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N4187W was involved in an accident near Gardnerville, Nevada, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 August 2014 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Gardnerville, Nevada, United States

Coordinates

38.7510, -119.6092

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N4187W

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2008

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gardnerville → Gardnerville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR14LA356

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to monitor the environment and to maintain clearance from wires during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, shortly after the helicopter took off from a riverbank, he felt a tug on the airframe, followed by a "big bang." The pilot was unable to maintain control of the helicopter as it began rotating to the right. The helicopter subsequently impacted the ground, rolled over, and came to rest upright. A postaccident examination of the accident site revealed that the helicopter had struck four small cables that had been attached to a pulley system that was strung across the river. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.