- Date
- June 24, 1991, 20:00 local (Jun 25, 1991, 03:00 UTC)
- Place
- Wenatchee, WA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N40450Robinson R-22 Beta
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 7, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910624055159A
- Case key
- 41461
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 failure to maintain a proper altitude. Contributing to the accident was sun glare.
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
A skid touched the river surface while the pilot was maneuvering at low altitude, causing the pilot to lose control and the aircraft to sink. The pilot was maneuvering at low altitude when he turned into the evening sun and was affected by sun glare.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N40450
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22 Beta
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1649
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 131 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Joel J. Kofmehl
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
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 260 total · 260 in this make and model · 130 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 11,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.