# Accident 20090821016259A: Robsin R44II, Tonopah, NV, August 21, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 21, 2009, 15:00 local time
- Place: Tonopah, NV
- Airport: Tonopah
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.1178° N, 117.7158° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1178&lon=-117.7158&mi=10
- Aircraft: N19DV, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N19DV-2018-01-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R44II
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,700 total, 840 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09LA411](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA411) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090821016259A

## Narrative

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

(-23)  AIRCRAFT WAS CONDUCTING AERIAL OBSERVATION OF A VEHICLE OFF ROAD RACE AND HAD BEEN AIRBORNE FOR ONE HOUR WHEN THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN INABILITY TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT WITH THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDING INTO UNEVEN TERRAIN.  THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN INITIALLY ON THE HEEL OF THE RIGHT SKID, BOUNCED THEN SKIDDED, BREAKING BOTH SKIDS AWAY FROM THE FUSELAGE, THEN IMPACTING THE UNDER SIDE OF THE NOSE AND FUSELAGE BEFORE IT TURNED TO THE LEFT AND CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.  THE PILOT SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RECALL ANY DETAIL.  THE TWO PASSENGERS WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED, BUT EXPECTED TO RECOVER.

## 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 WPR09LA411](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA411), Aug 21, 2009: Robinson R44 (N19DV), Tonopah, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maneuver the helicopter within its performance capabilities while at a low altitude in mountainous terrain and in high density altitude conditions.

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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