19950122000649A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robsin R22BETA · Placitas, NM · January 22, 1995

Date: January 22, 1995 · 10:45 local
Place: Placitas, NM
Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N269ME
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW95LA098
Reported as: Robsin R22BETA
Reported engine: Lycoming O320B2C
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,600 total2,500 in this make and model110 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Climbing at 150 feet AGL below ridge lines. Entered downdraft. Settled into trees. Too low for mountain terrain.

As the FAA filed it

CLIMBING AT 150 FEET AGL BELOW RIDGE LINES. ENTERED DOWNDRAFT. SETTLED INTO TREES. TOO LOW FOR MOUNTAIN TERRAIN.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW95LA098Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPlacitas, NMThe pilot operated beyond the climb capability of the helicopter, resulting in inadequate altitude and terrain clearance over mountainous rising terrain. A factor was turbulence.Jan 22, 1995 · Substantial damage