# Accident 19990918030709A: Robsin R22ALPHA, Tucumcari, NM, September 18, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 18, 1999, 13:30 local time
- Place: Tucumcari, NM
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.1604° N, 103.7206° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1604&lon=-103.7206&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8497Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8497Y-2000-02-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 ALPHA (registry code 7640104, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-alpha) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22ALPHA
- Reported engine: LYC O320B2C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 12,041 total, 9,549 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN99LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA163) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990918030709A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1999, AT 1330 MDT, A ROBINSON R-22-ALPHA HELICOPTER, N8497Y, REGISTERED TO HUNTS HASHKNIFE HELICOPTERS, INC., AND FLOWN BY RUSSELL G. HILL COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES AND CRASHED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF WHILE HERDING CATTLE 20 MILES NW OF TUCUMCARI, NEW MEXICO. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR.  A WEATHER BRIEFING HAD NOT BEEN OBTAINED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE HELICOPTER/COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT (SOLE OCCUPANT) WAS UNINJURED.  THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN OPERATING IN THE AREA FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS AND THIS FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT CATTLE PENS ADJACENT TO THE ACCIDENT SCENE IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE COLLISION.  (.4) SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH POWERLINES.  THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT SEE THE POWERLINES BECAUSE THEY BLENDED IN WITH THE BRUSH AND BACKGROUND TERRAIN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DEN99LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA163), Sep 18, 1999: Robinson R22A (N8497Y), Tucumcari, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate visual lookout. A factor was a reduced visual detection due to background vegetation and terrain.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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