20030601010579A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robsin R22 BETA · Las Vegas, NV · June 1, 2003

Date: June 1, 2003 · 11:00 local
Place: Las Vegas, NV
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N991RW
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX03LA177
Reported as: Robsin R22BETA
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 86 total46 in this make and model27 in the last 90 days

N991RWRegistration cancelled Oct 13, 2009 · Robinson Helicopter R22 BETAS/N 3451 · Built 2003 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R22 BETA Engine modelLycoming O-360 seriesReciprocating

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.

(-23) During a solo flight in the southwest practice area at las, helicopter struck guide wire coming off power line poles which wrapped around the swashplate. Lost tail rotor effectiveness and went into autorotation. Upon landing, the helicopter spun around and the rear skids dug into the ground putting the tail rotor into the ground, shearing off the tail rotor blades. Main rotor still turning, reduced power to cool engine before shut down.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) DURING A SOLO FLIGHT IN THE SOUTHWEST PRACTICE AREA AT LAS, HELICOPTER STRUCK GUIDE WIRE COMING OFF POWER LINE POLES WHICH WRAPPED AROUND THE SWASHPLATE. LOST TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS AND WENT INTO AUTOROTATION. UPON LANDING, THE HELICOPTER SPUN AROUND AND THE REAR SKIDS DUG INTO THE GROUND PUTTING THE TAIL ROTOR INTO THE GROUND, SHEARING OFF THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES. MAIN ROTOR STILL TURNING, REDUCED POWER TO COOL ENGINE BEFORE SHUT DOWN.

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 LAX03LA177Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportNorth Las Vegas, NVThe pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout.Jun 1, 2003 · Substantial damage