# Accident 20171024018079A: Robinson Helicopter R22 ALPHA, Arlington, WA, October 24, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 24, 2017, 13:15 local time
- Place: Arlington, WA
- Airport: N/A
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.1478° N, 122.0167° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1478&lon=-122.0167&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8537J (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 ALPHA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR18FA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA016) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171024018079A

## Narrative

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

ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2017 AT 1315 HRS PST, A ROBINSON R-22 AIRCRAFT THAT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT REGISTRATION, N8537J WAS FLOWN BY A COMMERCIAL PILOT WHO DID NOT HOLD A CURRENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.  IT WAS OPERATED FROM THE PILOTS HOME.  THE PILOT DEPARTED HIS DRIVEWAY WITH A PASSENGER ONBOARD FOR A PLEASURE FLIGHT.  AIRCRAFT PROCEEDED TO FLY APPROXIMATELY .25 MILE NORTH, OVERFLYING "KING LAKE".  WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A HOVER ABOVE THE CENTER OF THE LAKE AND A SKID CONTACTED THE SURFACE WHILE HOVERING.

AIRCRAFT THEN ROLLED ONTO IT'S SIDE AN THE ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE SURFACE THEN THE AIRCRAFT SUNK.  PILOT AND PASSENGER EVACUATED AIRCRAFT AND WERE RECOVERED BY A NEIGHBOR WHO USED A ROWBOAT FOR RESCUE.  PILOT WAS REPORTED TO SAY HE WAS UNABLE TO SWIM AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DETERMINED TO HAVE EXPIRED.  EFFORTS TO REVIVE PILOT WERE UNSUCESSFUL.  AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED BY PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS UNDER SUPERVISION OF FAA AND NTSB.  INVESTIGATION OF AIRCRAFT COMPLETE WITH NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

## 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 WPR18FA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA016), Oct 24, 2017: Robinson R22 (N8537J), Arlington, WA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the water while maneuvering at 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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