# Accident 20100602005419A: Robinson He R22 BETA, Spokane, WA, June 2, 2010 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: June 2, 2010, 16:32 local time - Place: Spokane, WA - Airport: Felts Field - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Landing: Approach - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 47.6906° N, 117.3017° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6906&lon=-117.3017&mi=10 - Aircraft: N522SA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N522SA-2018-01-17) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HE R22 BETA - Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 1 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Student - Pilot flight hours: 32 total, 32 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10FA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA277) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100602005419A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON JUNE 2, 2010 AT 16:32 HOURS LOCAL TIME N522SA, A 2005 ROBINSON R-22 HELICOPTER CRASHED IN A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR THE FELTS FIELD AIRPORT IN SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED RESULTING IN THE FATAL INJURIES OF THE SOLE OCCUPANT A STUDENT PILOT WITH 32 HOURS TOTAL TIME. THE TAILBOOM OF THE HELICOPTER WAS SEVERED IN FLIGHT BY A MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRIKE, AND WAS FOUND A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE OF THE HELICOPTER. VARIOUS PARTS OF THE HELICOPTER'S TAIL-BOOM, AND PLEXIGLAS BROKE UP IN-FIGHT. THE HELICOPTER THEN FELL VERTICALLY INTO THE BACKYARD OF A HOME IN A DENSELY POPULATED NEIGHBORHOOD. NO PROPERTY DAMAGE OR INJURIES OCCURRED TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY ON THE SURFACE. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD FUEL, THE MAGNETOS CREATED SPARK, HOWEVER THE ENGINE WAS STOPPED WHEN THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE SURFACE. THERE ALSO APPEARED TO BE LITTLE OR NO ROTOR RPM WHEN THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE 29 YEAR OLD MALE STUDENT PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, AND HAD FLOWN WITH A QUALIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR PRIOR TO BEGINNING HIS SOLO OPERATIONS THAT DAY. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS THAT PARTICULAR DAY WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION CARBURETOR ICE, AND COULD BE A POSSIBLE FACTOR. THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE 50 DEGREE FAHRENHEIT RANGE WITH HIGH HUMIDITY. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE HELICOPTER CONDUCTED BY PERSONNEL FROM THE NTSB, FAA AND ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY DID NOT CONCLUSIVELY REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL ABNORMALITIES WITH THIS PARTICULAR HELICOPTER. ## 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 WPR10FA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA277), Jun 2, 2010: Robinson R22 Beta (N522SA), Spokane, WA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation and… ## Other reports on N522SA (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20050516008099I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050516008099I), May 16, 2005: Robsin R22BETA (N522SA), Butte, MT, Minor damage. (-23) Cfi/pic stated he took over controls from student because of increasingly steep approach angle. Encountered low rotor RPM. Gusty crosswind gave… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.