- Date
- June 2, 1992, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Las Vegas, NV
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2301CRobinson R-22B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920602018039A
- Case key
- 27635
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 encounter with a sudden and strong tail wind component during a critical phase of flight which was beyond the capability of the helicopter. A factor in the accident was the confined nature of the helipad with high obstacles and power lines.
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
According to statements from the pilot and two ground witnesses, the helicopter was departing from a private helipad and during the takeoff initial climb a sudden 30 knot tail wind was encountered. The helicopter began to settle and the pilot had to use the remaining collective energy to balloon over a set of power lines. The aircraft landed hard and rolled over. The helipad is surrounded on three sides by tall trees and buildings, and, takeoffs must be made to the east. Before the takeoff began, the pilot said the winds were from the east at about 5 knots. During the initial climb the winds shifted from a head wind to a tail wind and a 30 knot gust arose. The pilot suspected that a microburst had occurred. Two ground witnesses reported that the helicopter lifted off with a light head wind and as it began to climb a very strong gust of wind came from behind the helicopter.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2301C
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1926
- Airframe hours
- 1,014
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Fredrick G. Cleeves
- Registered owner
- Helicopter Services Of Nevada
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 14, 1992 · 27 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
- Airport
- Private Helipad
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
- 40
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 2,686 total · 1,542 in this make and model · 2,590 as pilot in command · 33 in the last 90 days · 18 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 5 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2301C · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.