# Accident 20160122000539A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, North Las Vegas, NV, January 22, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 22, 2016, 11:00 local time
- Place: North Las Vegas, NV
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.2672° N, 115.3411° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2672&lon=-115.3411&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7020U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7020U-2019-03-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 49 total, 41 in this make and model, 41 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR16LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA056) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160122000539A

## Narrative

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

THE STUDENT PILOT ON A SOLO FLIGHT WAS PRACTICING A NORMAL APPROACH TO  A PINNACLE LANDING. THE APPROACH WAS TERMINATED INTO A HOVER TAXI OVER AN ELEVATED DIRT ROAD. THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF HEADING AND ANTI-TORQUE CONTROL DURING THE INITIATION OF A TAKE OFF. THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED OVER AND DESCENDED ALONG A SLOPED EMBANKMENT.  THE TAILROTOR CONTACTED THE EMBANKMENT RESULTING IN LOSS OF ANTI-TORQUE CONTROL.  THE PILOT CLOSED THE THROTTLE AND ENTERED A HOVER AUTOROTATION. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A REST UPRIGHT ON A SLOPED EMBANKMENT.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED. NO POST CRASH FIRE WAS REPORTED.

## 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 WPR16LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA056), Jan 22, 2016: Robinson Helicopter R22 (N7020U), Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of helicopter control as a result of the loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

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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