- Date
- October 16, 2020, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Pahrump, NV
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N500DLRobinson R44
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of visual reference
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20201016015599A
- Case key
- 102178
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control while hovering low over a body a water while facing into the sun, which resulted in a loss of visual reference and subsequent impact with the lake surface.
Findings · 5
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, he maneuvered the helicopter to a low and slow hover over a recreational lake. The helicopter was facing into the sun, and the sun’s reflection off the water produced a “significant glare.” The pilot lost his visual orientation with the water and sky, and when he realized that he was too low and saw water on the nose bubble, he attempted to increase collective, to increase altitude but was unable to do so. The pilot turned the helicopter on its side to stop the main rotor blades. The helicopter subsequently collided with the water and sank. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main and tail rotor drive systems. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter which would have precluded normal operation.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N500DL
- Reported as
- Robinson R44
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1178
- Built
- 2002
- Airframe hours
- 2,406.1
- Engines
- Lycoming O-540-F1B5, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Spring Mountain Raceway LLC
- Registered owner
- Spring Mountain Raceway LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 18, 2020 · 20.2 hours before
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Equipment
- ADS-B
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
- 73
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 5, 2020
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 3,630 total · 2,129 in this make and model · 3,630 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.25 inHg
- Observed at
- KDRA, 28 nm away
- METAR
- KDRA 161653Z AUTO 03015KT 10SM CLR 22/M10 A3025 RMK AO2 PK WND 04026/1601 SLP203 T02171100
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2021, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.9 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.