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20030603017759A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Robsin R22 BETA · Montpelier, VA · June 3, 2003

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

© OpenStreetMap
Date
June 3, 2003 · 11:03 local
Place
Montpelier, VA
Phase of flight
Normal Cruise
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N23428
NTSB investigation
NTSBIAD03FA056
Reported as
Robsin R22BETA
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
2
Pilot’s flight hours
423 total349 in this make and model29 in the last 90 days
N23428Registration cancelled Apr 24, 2006 · Robinson Helicopter R22 BETAS/N 2208 · Built 1992Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R22 BETAEngine modelLycoming 0-320 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) On June 3, 2003, approximately 11:03 am eastern daylight time, a R-22 beta, N23428, was destroyed during a routine power line patrol for rappahannock electric cooperative in hanover county near the town of Montpelier, Virginia (coordinates 37 degrees 11.03N 79 degrees 37.14W). The pilot-in-command and passenger were fatally injured. Day visual meteorological conditions with calm winds prevailed and were not contributory to the accident. A VFR flight plan was not filed for the 14 CFR part 91 flight. The pilot was current and qualified to fly the aircraft. The aircraft departed shannon airport (ezf) fredericksburg, Virginia, at approximately 9:25 am eastern daylight time. Both the main and reserve tanks were filled to capacity prior to take-off. With the tanks filled, the aircraft has been calculated to have been at least 100 lbs over maximum gross weight at the time of take-off. The helicopter had no known discrepancies noted. Investigation at the accident site determined the wreckage was confined to approximately a 50-foot radius around the main portion of the aircraft. The aircraft had descended with power vertically through dense woods. NTSB and manufacturer representativesconfirmed that the aircraft had no significant discrepancies prior to the accident. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the aircraft and had 423 total flight hours with 349 hours in the Robinson.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON JUNE 3, 2003, APPROXIMATELY 11:03 AM EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A R-22 BETA, N23428, WAS DESTROYED DURING A ROUTINE POWER LINE PATROL FOR RAPPAHANNOCK ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE IN HANOVER COUNTY NEAR THE TOWN OF MONTPELIER, VIRGINIA (COORDINATES 37 DEGREES 11.03N 79 DEGREES 37.14W). THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND AND PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED. DAY VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITH CALM WINDS PREVAILED AND WERE NOT CONTRIBUTORY TO THE ACCIDENT. A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED FOR THE 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT. THE PILOT WAS CURRENT AND QUALIFIED TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED SHANNON AIRPORT (EZF) FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA, AT APPROXIMATELY 9:25 AM EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME. BOTH THE MAIN AND RESERVE TANKS WERE FILLED TO CAPACITY PRIOR TO TAKE-OFF. WITH THE TANKS FILLED, THE AIRCRAFT HAS BEEN CALCULATED TO HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 100 LBS OVER MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AT THE TIME OF TAKE-OFF. THE HELICOPTER HAD NO KNOWN DISCREPANCIES NOTED. INVESTIGATION AT THE ACCIDENT SITE DETERMINED THE WRECKAGE WAS CONFINED TO APPROXIMATELY A 50-FOOT RADIUS AROUND THE MAIN PORTION OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD DESCENDED WITH POWER VERTICALLY THROUGH DENSE WOODS. NTSB AND MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVESCONFIRMED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD NO SIGNIFICANT DISCREPANCIES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT AND HAD 423 TOTAL FLIGHT HOURS WITH 349 HOURS IN THE ROBINSON.

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 IAD03FA056Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportMontpelier, VAThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm while maneuvering at a low altitude.Jun 3, 2003 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N23428 · 1

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

Incident 19960706016339IForced/Precautionary Landing · Littleton, NCNarrative: pilot stated in phone interview that after refueling helicopter with a total of 30 gallons, he and his passenger departed a backyard located in the fox hollow subdivision. Departure time was approximately 1800 to 1815 EDT. Fuel was purchased from…Jul 6, 1996 · Minor damage