# NTSB FTW95LA098: Robinson R22 Beta, N269ME, Placitas, NM, January 22, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 22, 1995, 10:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Placitas, NM - Coordinates: 35.320774, -106.460311 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3208&lon=-106.4603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19342 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19342/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA098 ## Probable cause THE PILOT OPERATED BEYOND THE CLIMB CAPABILITY OF THE HELICOPTER, RESULTING IN INADEQUATE ALTITUDE AND TERRAIN CLEARANCE OVER MOUNTAINOUS RISING TERRAIN. A FACTOR WAS TURBULENCE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, climb - to cruise - weather condition - turbulence,terrain induced (contributing factor) - aircraft performance,climb capability - exceeded (cause) - altitude/clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis WHILE TRANSITING A RIDGE LINE AT 8,100 FEET MSL, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE. THE HELICOPTER SETTLED INTO TREES ALONG THE SIDE OF A SLOPE. PRIOR TO THE LOSS OF CONTROL THE HELICOPTER WAS CLIMBING ABOUT 600 FEET PER MINUTE AT MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS POWER AT 150 TO 200 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. TURBULENCE RESULTED IN LOSS OF AIRSPEED AND ROTOR RPM DECREASED. SUBSEQUENTLY THE HELICOPTER SETTLED INTO TREES. HAD THE PILOTS CHOSEN A LESS DIRECT ROUTE TO THE NORTH THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. ## Factual narrative On January 22, 1995, at 1045 mountain standard time, a Robinson Helicopter, R22 BETA, N269ME, impacted terrain while attempting to climb near Placitas, New Mexico. The two pilots aboard were not injured and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Coronado Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico, with a destination of Tucumcari, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this ferry flight and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was on a delivery ferry flight with the owner serving as second pilot (pilot rated passenger). According to information provided by the owner, the flight encountered adverse winds, which the owner labeled "windshear," while transiting along a canyon ridge line at 8,100 feet msl (above mean sea level). The owner said that they lost translational lift and gradually settled into the trees. He also stated that no mechanical difficulties were on going at the time of the accident. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector interviewed the pilots. This paragraph is a summary of his enclosed statement. They were attempting to fly as direct a route as possible and elected to fly over the north end of the Sandia Mountains. "They were climbing at about 600 feet per minute through 8,000 feet MSL, at Vy of 53 knots and an altitude of about 150 feet to 200 feet AGL, at maximum continuous power." They encountered a loss of airspeed, which the pilots attributed to windshear, and rotor RPM decreased. Subsequently, the helicopter settled into trees. (See attached FAA inspector statement). ## Aircraft - Registration: N269ME (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON R22 BETA - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1150 - Airframe hours: 1500 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stewart, Robert J. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 21, 1995, 10 hours before - Departed: 4AC, ALBUQUERQUE, NM - Destination: TCC, TUCUMCARI, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,600 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 2,566 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ABQ, 20 nm away ## 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 19950122000649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950122000649A), Jan 22, 1995: Robsin R22BETA, Placitas, NM, Substantial damage. Climbing at 150 feet AGL below ridge lines. Entered downdraft. Settled into trees. Too low for mountain terrain. 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. --- 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.