# NTSB WPR13CA064: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N557AC, Roosevelt Lake, AZ, December 7, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 7, 2012, 14:46 local (21:46 UTC) - Place: Roosevelt Lake, AZ - Coordinates: 33.736667, -111.201667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7367&lon=-111.2017&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 10, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration - NTSB case key (mKey): 85761 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85761/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85761 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA064 ## Probable cause The pilot's visual disorientation, which resulted in a collision with the lake. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Perception/orientation/illusion: visual illusion/disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Terrain: water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 97 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot descended the helicopter out of mountainous terrain and then continued over a large mountain lake, cruising about 100 knots at an altitude of about 200 to 250 feet. The lake water was very clear and perfectly calm. The pilot looked inside the cockpit to check instruments, and when he looked outside and below the helicopter, he experienced a feeling of mental confusion similar to vertigo. At this point the pilot estimated that the helicopter was between 15 and 20 feet above the water. He pulled aft on the cyclic, the helicopter impacted the water, pitched forward, and sank. The pilot and his two passengers were able to egress the helicopter while it was submerged. Immediately after the accident the pilot told a park ranger who was on-scene that he was traveling a little low and thought he set a skid in the water. One of the passengers stated that moments before the collision with the water, the pilot had asked them if they wanted to get closer to the water and if they wanted to chase some birds. ## Factual narrative The pilot descended the helicopter out of mountainous terrain and then continued over a large mountain lake, cruising about 100 knots, between 200 and 250 feet. The lake water was very clear and perfectly calm. The pilot looked inside the cockpit to check instruments, and when he looked outside and below the helicopter, he experienced a feeling of mental confusion similar to vertigo. At this point the pilot estimated that the helicopter was between 15 and 20 feet above the water. He pulled aft on the cyclic, the helicopter impacted the water, pitched forward, and sank. The pilot and his two passengers were able to egress the helicopter while it was submerged. Immediately after the accident the pilot told a Park Ranger who was on-scene that he was traveling a little low and thinks he set a skid in the water. One of the passengers stated that moments before the collision with the water the pilot had asked them if they wanted to get closer to the water and if they wanted to chase some birds. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N557AC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N557AC-2014-03-25), registration cancelled 2014-03-25, S/N 11387, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640122) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (registry code 41899, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 11387 - Airframe hours: 1813 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Blue Sky Helicopters - Registered owner: Pollux Aviation Ltd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 8, 2012 - Departed: KSDL, Scottsdale, AZ - Destination: KSDL, Scottsdale, AZ - Airport: KSDL, Scottsdale Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 6, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 3,957 total, 47 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Observed at: KSDL, 42 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 20121207027839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121207027839A), Dec 7, 2012: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Roosevelt, AZ, Destroyed. The helicopter was descending from the four peaks mountains (approximately 6,000-7000FT) towards Roosevelt lake (approximately 2100FT). The helicopter pilot… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 16, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85761. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384739&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 244 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384795&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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.