# Accident 20121207027839A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Roosevelt, AZ, December 7, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 7, 2012, 14:45 local time
- Place: Roosevelt, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7367° N, 111.2017° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7367&lon=-111.2017&mi=10
- Aircraft: N557AC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N557AC-2014-03-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (registry code 41899, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,957 total, 47 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13CA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA064) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121207027839A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 WPR13CA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA064), Dec 7, 2012: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N557AC), Roosevelt Lake, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's visual disorientation, which resulted in a collision with the lake.

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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