Robinson R44 N500DL

Summary

On 16 October 2020 at about 17:00 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N500DL, operated by Spring Mountain Raceway LLC, was involved in an accident near Pahrump, Nevada, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 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

16 October 2020 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Pahrump, Nevada, United States

Coordinates

36.1658, -115.9038

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N500DL

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2002

Engines

1

Operator

Spring Mountain Raceway LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR21LA021

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control while hovering low over a body a water while facing into the sun, which resulted in a loss of visual reference and subsequent impact with the lake surface.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, he maneuvered the helicopter to a low and slow hover over a recreational lake. The helicopter was facing into the sun, and the sun’s reflection off the water produced a “significant glare.” The pilot lost his visual orientation with the water and sky, and when he realized that he was too low and saw water on the nose bubble, he attempted to increase collective, to increase altitude but was unable to do so. The pilot turned the helicopter on its side to stop the main rotor blades. The helicopter subsequently collided with the water and sank. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main and tail rotor drive systems. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter which would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.