# Accident 20211203020319A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Hachita, NM, December 3, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 3, 2021, 10:00 local time
- Place: Hachita, NM
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.5159° N, 108.4580° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5159&lon=-108.4580&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7116L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7116L-2023-06-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-360-A1D (registry code 41504, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-360-A1D
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 22,412 total, 8,513 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA059) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211203020319A

## Narrative

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

ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON 12/3/2021 AT 10 AM.

ROBINSON HELICOPTER R-22 (N7116L).

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

ACCIDENT TYPE: AIRCRAFT DESTROYED.

PHASE OF OPERATION: HOVERING AT APPROXIMATELY 12 FEET.

PURPOSE: HERDING CATTLE

THE PILOT CHOOSE TO HOVER BACKWARDS,

RAN THE TAIL ROTOR INTO A MESQUITE BRANCH WHICH DESTROYED THE TAIL ROTOR AND CAUSED THE ATTACHED GEARBOX TO DEPART THE AIRCRAFT.

NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.

PILOT WAS THE ONLY PERSON ONBOARD AND SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.

PILOT HOLDS A COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE.

ORIGIN OF FLIGHT: PILOT DEPARTED A LOCAL RANCH NEAR HACHITA, NM ON 12/3/2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 9 AM LOCAL.

## 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 WPR22LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA059), Dec 3, 2021: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N7116L), Hachita, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to adequately monitor the environment during a low level operation, which resulted in collision with vegetation.

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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