# Accident 20201016015599A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Pahrump, NV, October 16, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 16, 2020, 10:05 local time
- Place: Pahrump, NV
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.1658° N, 115.9038° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1658&lon=-115.9038&mi=10
- Aircraft: N500DL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N500DL-2022-01-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,630 total, 2,129 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA021) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201016015599A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS HOVERING LOW AT THE EDGE OF THE POND TO SHOW THE PASSENGERS A PORTION OF THE SPEEDWAY FACILITIES WHEN HE BECAME DISORIENTED BECAUSE GLARE OFF OF THE WATER FROM THE SUN.  THE AIRCRAFT MAIN ROTOR BLADES MADE CONTACT WITH THE WATER AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ONTO THE LEFT SIDE AND SUBMERGED IN APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN FEET OF WATER.

## 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 WPR21LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA021), Oct 16, 2020: Robinson R44 (N500DL), Pahrump, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control while hovering low over a body a water while facing into the sun, which resulted in a loss of visual reference and subsequent impact with the lake…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.