Robinson R22 BETA N4085M
7 February 1993 · Bend, Oregon, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 7 February 1993 at about 17:20 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N4085M, operated by Puget Sound Helicopter, was involved in an accident near Bend, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Bend, Oregon, United States
- Coordinates
- 43.9810, -121.2693
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA
- Registration
- N4085M
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Puget Sound Helicopter
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Sun River → Troutdale
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA93LA064
People
2 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Probable cause
ROTOR RPM WAS NOT MAINTAINED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: LOW CEILING AND POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT TAKEOFF, THE CEILING WAS 350 FEET AGL AND VISIBILITY WAS TWO MILES. THE FLIGHT TOOK OFF AND HEADED NORTH AT AN ALTITUDE OF 250 FEET AGL, FOLLOWING A HIGHWAY. APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MILES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE CEILING AND VISIBILITY DETERIORATED AND THE PILOT INITIATED A MEDIUM BANK TURN TO THE LEFT. DURING THE TURN, THE AIRSPEED DECLINED AND THE LOW ROTOR RPM HORN SOUNDED. THE PILOT LOWERED THE NOSE AND INCREASED COLLECTIVE. DUE TO THE CLOSENESS OF THE TREES, THE PILOT ESTABLISHED THE BEST RATE OF DESCENT AND 'MILKED' THE RPM FOR A LANDING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO EXECUTE THE PROPER POWER OFF LANDING PROCEDURE AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. THE SKIDS COLLAPSED AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R22 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Sep 1993 | Robinson R22 BETA | Wildomar, California, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 19 Sep 1993 | Robinson R22 | Scottdale, Pennsylvania, United States | Robert B. Davis | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1993 | Robinson R22 | Warsaw, Kentucky, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 24 Jun 1993 | Robinson R22 | Sanford, Maine, United States | Jack McCormick | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jul 1993 | Robinson R22-B | Venice, California, United States | Complete Aviation Services Inc | No injuries | - |
| 31 May 1993 | Robinson R22 | Sandwich, Illinois, United States | Austin, Michael C. | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jan 1993 | Swearingen SA-226T(B) | John Day, Oregon, United States | Prarie Wood Products | No injuries | - |
| 31 Jan 1993 | Boeing A75N1 | Bend, Oregon, United States | Walsh, DON R. | No injuries | - |
| 2 Feb 1993 | Champion 7ECA | Medford, Oregon, United States | McCall, Winston R. | No injuries | - |
| 4 Feb 1993 | Cessna 185E | North Bend, Oregon, United States | Cordell, Steven D. | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Feb 1993 | Cessna 140 | Salem, Oregon, United States | Cosentino, Joseph & Debora | Minor injuries | - |
| 29 Mar 1993 | Piper PA-23-250 | Estacada, Oregon, United States | Ryan, Lawrence J. | Fatal | 4 |