# NTSB DEN99LA163: Robinson R22A, N8497Y, Tucumcari, NM, September 18, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 18, 1999, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Tucumcari, NM
- Coordinates: 35.1604, -103.720634 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1604&lon=-103.7206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47415
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA163
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47415/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA163

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout.  A factor was a reduced visual detection due to background vegetation and terrain.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

Shortly after takeoff, the helicopter collided with powerlines.  The pilot said he did not see the powerlines because they blended in with the brush and background terrain.

## Factual narrative

On September 18, 1999, approximately 1330 mountain daylight time, a Robinson R22A, N8497Y, registered to and operated by Hunts Hashknife Helicopters, Inc., was substantially damaged when it collided with powerlines shortly after taking off from a field 20 miles northwest of Tucumcari, New Mexico.  The commercial pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the business flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot's accident report, he had been herding cattle on the Clabber Hill Ranch for about four hours when he took a lunch break.  When he returned, he preflighted the helicopter, then took off into the wind in a northerly direction.  After traveling 100 to 150 yards at an altitude of 30 feet and at an airspeed of 30 knots, the helicopter collided with powerlines.  The pilot said he did not see the powerlines because they blended in with the brush and background terrain.  Asked how this accident could have been prevented, the pilot wrote:  "A better recon[naissance] of area before T/O [takeoff]."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8497Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8497Y-2000-02-22), registration cancelled 2000-02-22, S/N 0408 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Robinson R22A
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 ALPHA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-alpha) (registry code 7640104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0408
- Airframe hours: 5115
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 124 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hunts Hashknife Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 14, 1999, 15 hours before
- Departed: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 12,041 total, 9,549 in this make and model, 11,586 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported
- Lowest ceiling: none

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19990918030709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990918030709A), Sep 18, 1999: Robsin R22ALPHA, Tucumcari, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 18, 1999, at 1330 MDT, a Robinson R-22-alpha helicopter, N8497Y, registered to hunts hashknife helicopters, inc., and flown by russell g.…

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.

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