# Accident 20161215020429A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Separ, NM, December 15, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 15, 2016, 10:30 local time
- Place: Separ, NM
- Airport: Las Cruces
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: O8DR
- Location: 32.2006° N, 108.4222° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2006&lon=-108.4222&mi=10
- Aircraft: N835AK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N835AK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (registry code 42353, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-f1b5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,175 total, 118 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA095) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161215020429A

## Narrative

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

ON DECEMBER 15, 2016 A ROBERTSON R44 HELICOPTER (N835AK), REGISTERED TO OLD CITY HELICOPTER SALES LLC, DEPARTED LAS CRUCES NM AIRPORT (KLRU) TO BENSON AZ AIRPORT (E95) AND EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING IN SEPAR, NM.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE THE TIME, AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED.

## 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 GAA17CA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA095), Dec 15, 2016: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N835AK), Separ, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s abrupt maneuver to avoid electrical wires during the approach, which resulted in a hard landing.

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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