# Accident 20191017020139A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Moapa Valley, NV, October 17, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 17, 2019, 17:00 local time
- Place: Moapa Valley, NV
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.5100° N, 114.3758° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5100&lon=-114.3758&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4066S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4066S-2020-11-20) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,845 total, 1,450 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA20CA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA035) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191017020139A

## Narrative

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

ON OCTOBER 17, 2019, AT APPROXIMATELY 1700 PDT, N4066S, A ROBINSON R-22 HELICOPTER, IMPACTED TERRAIN AFTER ATTEMPTING TO LAND AND EXECUTING A GO-AROUND.  THERE WERE TWO OCCUPANTS ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT, THE PIC AND A COMMERCIAL STUDENT PILOT.  NEITHER ONE SUSTAINED ANY INJURIES DUE TO THE ACCIDENT.

THE ACCIDENT SCENE WAS LOCATED ON A SAND BAR IN THE LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA NORTHEAST OF LAS VEGAS, NV.  ON OCTOBER 18, 2019, INSPECTORS RESPONDED TO THE SCENE BUT WERE UNABLE TO GAIN ACCESS DUE TO THE TERRAIN. HOWEVER,  INSPECTORS WERE ABLE TO LOCATE THE HELICOPTER UTIZING BINOCCULARS AND NOTICED IT WAS RESTING UPSIDE DOWN.  ON OCTOBER 21, 2019, INSPECTORS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE SCENE VIA HELICOPTER BY THE LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT.  UPON ARRIVAL, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT SOMEONE HAD PUSHED THE HELICOPTER IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION.

THE EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED THAT THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET FROM THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX.  BOTH MAIN ROTOR BLADES SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FROM IMPACTING THE TERRAIN, STRIKING THE TAIL BOOM, AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLING OVER ON ITS SIDE.  THE FUSELAGE WAS STILL INTACT AND SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO ITS EXTERIOR.  THERE WERE NO IDENTIFYING MARKS IN THE SAND DUE TO NUMEROUS POST ACCIDENT FOOT PRINTS AROUND THE SCENE.

## 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 GAA20CA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA035), Oct 17, 2019: Robinson R22 (N4066S), Overton, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper approach and the flight instructor's subsequent failure to maintain an adequate climb rate during an attempted go-around in gusting tailwind conditions, which…

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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