20121207027839A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Roosevelt, AZ · December 7, 2012

Date: December 7, 2012 · 14:45 local
Place: Roosevelt, AZ
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N557AC
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR13CA064
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44 II
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 3
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,957 total47 in this make and model1 in the last 90 days

N557ACRegistration cancelled Mar 25, 2014 · Robinson Helicopter R44 IIS/N 11387 · Built 2006 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 II Engine modelLycoming IO-540-AE1A5Reciprocating

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.

The helicopter was descending from the four peaks mountains (approximately 6,000-7000FT) towards Roosevelt lake (approximately 2100FT).

The helicopter pilot stated he lost situational awareness and his separation from the water. He stated the water was clear adding to the difficulty of determining his altitude above the water.

The helicopter flew into Roosevelt lake. The helicopter came apart and sunk to the bottom of the lake and has not been recovered.

According to witness statements and the passengers there was no mechanical malfunctions.

As the FAA filed it

THE HELICOPTER WAS DESCENDING FROM THE FOUR PEAKS MOUNTAINS (APPROXIMATELY 6,000-7000FT) TOWARDS ROOSEVELT LAKE (APPROXIMATELY 2100FT).

THE HELICOPTER PILOT STATED HE LOST SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND HIS SEPARATION FROM THE WATER. HE STATED THE WATER WAS CLEAR ADDING TO THE DIFFICULTY OF DETERMINING HIS ALTITUDE ABOVE THE WATER.

THE HELICOPTER FLEW INTO ROOSEVELT LAKE. THE HELICOPTER CAME APART AND SUNK TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE AND HAS NOT BEEN RECOVERED.

ACCORDING TO WITNESS STATEMENTS AND THE PASSENGERS THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS.

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 WPR13CA064Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportRoosevelt Lake, AZThe pilot's visual disorientation, which resulted in a collision with the lake.Dec 7, 2012 · Substantial damage