# Accident 20161202022559A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Unalaska, AK, December 2, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 2, 2016, 13:04 local time
- Place: Unalaska, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 53.7850° N, 166.7097° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=53.7850&lon=-166.7097&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7085K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7085K-2017-05-18) (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
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,000 total, 941 in this make and model, 183 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC17LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17LA011) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161202022559A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT (SITTING IN THE RIGHT SEAT) REPORTED THAT HE WAS FLYING A COMMUNICATIONS TECHNICIAN FROM UNALASKA TO THE FORT GLENN RANCH ON UMNAK ISLAND. THE PILOT DEPARTED FROM UNALASKA AND WHILE FLYING OVER THE WATER BETWEEN UNALASKA AND UMNAK ISLAND, HE OBSERVED A WALL OF SNOW. THE PILOT TURNED AROUND TO HEAD BACK TO UNALASKA AND WHILE IN A VALLEY, HE OBSERVED A SNOW SQUALL. HE LANDED THE HELICOPTER AND WAITED OUT THE SNOW SQUALL. AFTER THE SNOW SQUALL ABATED, HE DEPARTED TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT BACK TO UNALASKA. WHILE ENROUTE, ANOTHER SNOW SQUALL APPEARED AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND AGAIN TO WAIT OUT THE SNOW SQUALL. DURING THE LANDING, THERE WERE WHITE OUT CONDITIONS AND THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM IMPACTED TERRAIN. THE HELICOPTER THEN ROLLED ON ITS LEFT SIDE. BOTH OCCUPANTS EGRESSED AND WERE LATER RESCUED BY A USCG HELICOPTER.

## 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 ANC17LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17LA011), Dec 2, 2016: Robinson Helicopter R22 (N7085K), Unalaska, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain during a precautionary landing in whiteout conditions, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain.

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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