20140523006299A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA · Santa Paula, CA · May 23, 2014

Date: May 23, 2014 · 10:10 local
Place: Santa Paula, CA
Airport: Santa Paula
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N4081H
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR14FA203
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot

N4081HRegistration cancelled Jul 8, 2014 · Robinson Helicopter R22 BETAS/N 1927 · Built 1991 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R22 BETA Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

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.

Helicopter N4081H departed oxnard airport for a flight in the local area. The helicopter was flying north east low level over the Santa clara river when it struck a power line a mile and half west of Santa Paula Airport. After contact with the power line the helicopter crashed onto the dry river bed. Local airports were reporting VMC at the time of the crash. A witness saw the helicopter flying below the tree line. After the helicopter passed by and out of view, the witness heard two pops.

As the FAA filed it

HELICOPTER N4081H DEPARTED OXNARD AIRPORT FOR A FLIGHT IN THE LOCAL AREA. THE HELICOPTER WAS FLYING NORTH EAST LOW LEVEL OVER THE SANTA CLARA RIVER WHEN IT STRUCK A POWER LINE A MILE AND HALF WEST OF SANTA PAULA AIRPORT. AFTER CONTACT WITH THE POWER LINE THE HELICOPTER CRASHED ONTO THE DRY RIVER BED. LOCAL AIRPORTS WERE REPORTING VMC AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. A WITNESS SAW THE HELICOPTER FLYING BELOW THE TREE LINE. AFTER THE HELICOPTER PASSED BY AND OUT OF VIEW, THE WITNESS HEARD TWO POPS.

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 WPR14FA203Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSanta Paula, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while flying at a low altitude.May 23, 2014 · Substantial damage