# Accident 20031217037759A: Robsin R22, Denver, CO, December 17, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 17, 2003, 05:53 local time
- Place: Denver, CO
- Airport: Jeffco Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Aerial Taxi To Tkof/Rtrcrft
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.9014° N, 105.1167° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9014&lon=-105.1167&mi=10
- Aircraft: N341MK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N341MK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 (registry code 7640102, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 306 total, 205 in this make and model, 101 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN04LA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA030) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031217037759A

## Narrative

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

(-23) INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT WERE TAKING OFF FROM JEFFCO AIRPORT IN BROOMFIELD COLORADO IN A ROBINSON R22 HELICOPTER ENROUTE TO SCOTTSDALE, AZ. ON 12/17/2003 AT 05:50 HOURS. VISUAL FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED FOR THE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91. WEATHER HAD BEEN RECEIVED FROM DENVER FLIGHT SERVICE STATION AT 05:30 HOURS AS: WINDS FROM 260 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS GUSTING, SCATTERED CLOUDS 18000 FT. AGL, VISIBILITY 25, ALTIMETER 30.20. AT APPROXIMATELY 05:HOURS THE HELICOPTER INITIATED AN AERIAL TAXI FROM THE EAST HANGARS. DURING THE AERIAL TAXI THE HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERED A 35-45 MPH GUST OFF WIND PUSHING THE HELICOPTER BACKWARDS. THE PIC TRIED TO LOWER THE NOSE TO GAIN FORWARD SPEED BUT COULD NOT. THE HELICOPTER CRASHED GOING BACKWARDS, ROLLED OVER, COMING TO REST ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE WINDSCREEN WAS FRAGMENTED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS RIPPED OUT OF THE CRAFT BY THE ROTOR BLADES, THE ROTOR BLADES WERE BENT DOWN AND THE TAIL WAS BENT UPWARDS. ACCORDING TO THE METAR (AVIATION ROUTINE WEATHER REPORT) THE WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH WERE FROM 265 DEGREES AT 30 KNOTS.

## 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 DEN04LA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA030), Dec 17, 2003: Robinson R22 (N341MK), Broomfield, CO, destroyed. Probable cause: the flight instructor's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the wind gust.

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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