# Accident 20220428008689A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Folsom, NM, April 28, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 28, 2022, 15:30 local time
- Place: Folsom, NM
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: HVWG
- Location: 36.9109° N, 103.6478° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9109&lon=-103.6478&mi=10
- Aircraft: N41339 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 4,800 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA168) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220428008689A

## Narrative

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

WHILE BEGINNING AN AERIAL APPLICATION, THE PILOT DEPARTED A TRUCK LANDING PAD INTO A 8 TO 10 KNOT WIND. THE PILOT MADE A TURN AWAY FROM THE HEAD WIND WHILE AT A LOW ALTITUDE AND SLOW AIRSPEED RESULTING IN SETTLING INTO THE GROUND.

BASED UPON RATON, NM'S ASOS, THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE ACCIDENT LOCATION WAS NEAR 8,500 FEET.

A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.

THE EXPERIENCED AG PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHEN CONTROL WAS POSSIBLE, HOWEVER THE PILOT WAS OPERATING IN A REMOTE AREA THAT WAS SURROUNDED BY HILLY TERRAIN THAT AFFECTED THE WIND DIRECTION.

THE CLOSEST WEATHER REPORTING WAS RATON, NM, 25 NM DISTANT.

## 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 WPR22LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA168), Apr 28, 2022: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N41339), Folsom, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed and rotor rpm 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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