20070929830149A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robsin R22 BETA · Rodeo, NM · September 29, 2007

Date: September 29, 2007 · 12:00 local
Place: Rodeo, NM
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N74557
NTSB investigation: NTSBDEN07LA167
Reported as: Robsin R22BETA
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 0 total710 in this make and model0 in the last 90 days

N74557Registered now · Robinson Helicopter R22 BETAS/N 3900 · Built 2005 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) The pilot privacy data omitted stated that he operated his aircraft over a ridge line into a narrow valley. As he descended into the valley to check for livestock and fence conditions, he encountered gusty, quartering tailwinds with a subsequent loss of tail rotor effectiveness. Since he was approaching low ground with little or no room to maneuver, the aircraft seemed to settle with power and struck the ground.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT HE OPERATED HIS AIRCRAFT OVER A RIDGE LINE INTO A NARROW VALLEY. AS HE DESCENDED INTO THE VALLEY TO CHECK FOR LIVESTOCK AND FENCE CONDITIONS, HE ENCOUNTERED GUSTY, QUARTERING TAILWINDS WITH A SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS. SINCE HE WAS APPROACHING LOW GROUND WITH LITTLE OR NO ROOM TO MANEUVER, THE AIRCRAFT SEEMED TO SETTLE WITH POWER AND STRUCK THE GROUND.

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 DEN07LA167Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSilver City, NMThe student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter resulting in his settling with power and subsequent impact with terrain. A factor contributing to the accident was the trees.Sep 29, 2007 · Substantial damage