20130831016689A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Caballo, NM · August 31, 2013

Date: August 31, 2013 · 11:45 local
Place: Caballo, NM
Airport: Truth Or Consequences
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3156U
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN13FA517
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44 II
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 3
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,161 total632 in this make and model91 in the last 90 days

N3156URegistration cancelled Feb 13, 2018 · Robinson Helicopter R44 IIS/N 11486 · 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.

On August 31, 2013, at 11:45 MST, a Robinson 44II, N3156U, collided with power wires while on a pleasure flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the certificated commercial helicopter pilot and two passengers were killed. The flight originated at Truth Or Consequences, new Mexico, on August 31, 2013, at 11:25 MST.

As the FAA filed it

ON AUGUST 31, 2013, AT 11:45 MST, A ROBINSON 44II, N3156U, COLLIDED WITH POWER WIRES WHILE ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL HELICOPTER PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE KILLED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, NEW MEXICO, ON AUGUST 31, 2013, AT 11:25 MST.

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 CEN13FA517Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCaballo, NMThe pilot’s failure to see and avoid power lines while maneuvering near the ground because dust stirred up by the rotor wash obscured his visibility.Aug 31, 2013 · Substantial damage