# Accident 20140523006299A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Santa Paula, CA, May 23, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 23, 2014, 10:10 local time
- Place: Santa Paula, CA
- Airport: Santa Paula
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.3269° N, 119.0800° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3269&lon=-119.0800&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4081H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4081H-2014-07-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR14FA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA203) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140523006299A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 WPR14FA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA203), May 23, 2014: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N4081H), Santa Paula, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while flying at a low altitude.

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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