- Date
- April 15, 2006, 11:05 local (17:05 UTC)
- Place
- Santa Fe, NM
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N85560Robinson R-22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 29, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 63502
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's improper preflight planning and his failure to maintain control of the helicopter during takeoff. Factors contributing to the accident were the helicopter exceeding its maximum gross weight for takeoff and the high density altitude.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The helicopter was being operated at greater than its maximum gross weight for takeoff. The airfield was at 6,387 feet mean sea level. The temperature at the time of the accident was 61 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot said they lifted off and bounced across the ground trying to gain lift. The helicopter then reached a 20 foot drop at the north end of the airport. The helicopter dropped, impacted the terrain and rolled over causing the tail boom to separate, the main rotor blades to bend and fracture, the right skid to separate and the bubble canopy to come off and fragment. The pilot and passenger on board were not injured. The calculated density altitude was 7,914 feet.
Factual narrative
The helicopter was being operated at greater than its maximum gross weight for takeoff. The airfield was at 6,387 feet mean sea level. The temperature at the time of the accident was 61 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot said they lifted off and bounced across the ground trying to gain lift. The helicopter then reached a 20 foot drop at the north end of the airport. The helicopter dropped, impacted the terrain and rolled over causing the tail boom to separate, the main rotor blades to bend and fracture, the right skid to separate and the bubble canopy to come off and fragment. The pilot and passenger on board were not injured. The calculated density altitude was 7,914 feet.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N85560
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0456
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Donald Olson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Santa Fe, NM
- Destination
- Unknown
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2
- Flight hours
- 500 total · 5 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- SAF