# Accident 20020523012129A: Robsin R22, Grantspass, OR, May 23, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 23, 2002, 15:30 local time
- Place: Grantspass, OR
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.7506° N, 123.0408° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7506&lon=-123.0408&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2322Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2322Y-2002-08-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 MARINER (registry code 7640115, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-mariner) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA02FA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02FA085) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020523012129A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT AND PASSENGER OF A LIGHT HELICOPTER WERE FLYING DOWN THE ROGUE RIVER GORGE AT APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK AN UNUSED TELEPHONE WIRE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO POLES ON EACH SIDE OF THE RIVER. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND CRASHED ON THE BANK. (.4) ON MAY 23, 2002, APPROXIMATELY 1545 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A ROBINSON R-22 MARINER, N2322Y, WAS DESTROYED AFTER IT COLLIDED WITH SERVICE LINES AND TERRAIN NEAR MERLIN, OREGON. THE HELICOPTER IS REGISTERED TO THE PILOT, AND WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14, CFR PART 91. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM GRANTS PASS, OREGON, APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO FIRE AND NO REPORT OF ELT ACTIVATION. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS TRAVELING NORTHWEST BOUND OVER THE ROUGE RIVER. HE REPORTED THAT AS THE HELICOPTER WAS TRANSITIONING THE AREA, IT COLLIDED WITH A SERIES OF POLE-MOUNTED S                                                                         ERVICE LINES THAT TRAVELED PERPENDICULAR THE RIVER CORRIDOR. SHORTLY AFTER CONTACTING THE SERVICES LINES, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED 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 SEA02FA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02FA085), May 23, 2002: Robinson R-22 Mariner (N2322Y), Merlin, OR, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: Clearance from a cable running perpendicular to a river was not maintained during low level cruise flight. A cable was a factor.

## Other reports on N2322Y (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19920223010979I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920223010979I), Feb 23, 1992: Robsin R22 (N2322Y), Idaho Falls, ID, Minor damage. Aircraft settled through snow crust while rotors were still turning. Tail rotor was buckled slighty.

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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