Robinson R-22M N42WC
7 July 1994 · Portland, Oregon, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 7 July 1994 at about 18:25 local time, a Robinson R-22M registered N42WC, operated by Hillsboro Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Portland, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. 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 18:25
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Portland, Oregon, United States
- Coordinates
- 45.4001, -122.7892
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22M
- Registration
- N42WC
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Hillsboro Helicopters, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Hillsboro → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA94LA171
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX FAILURE DUE TO INADEQUATE ASSEMBLY AND INSPECTION PROCEDURES BY THE MANUFACTURER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN AUTOROTATION AFTER LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS. THE TAIL BOOM AND ROTOR STRUCK THE SURFACE WHEN THE FLOAT EQUIPPED HELICOPTER LANDED IN THE RIVER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX OUTPUT SHAFT PINION RETAINING KEY HAD NOT BEEN INSTALLED DURING ASSEMBLY. THE TAIL ROTOR HUB AND BLADE ASSEMBLY WERE FREE TO TURN ON THE SHAFT AT THE TIME OF INVESTIGATION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R-22M accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Feb 1992 | Robinson R-22M | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Joseph E. Beckett | No injuries | - |
| 20 May 1990 | Robinson R-22M | Stevensville, Maryland, United States | Thomas McDermott | No injuries | - |
| 27 Sep 1987 | Robinson R-22M | Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States | Ronnie Wright | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jun 2003 | Robinson R-22M | Camden, Australia | Cloud 9 Aviation Pty Ltd | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Apr 1994 | Cessna 172P | Hillsboro, Oregon, United States | Eagle Flight Center, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jun 1994 | Piper PA-38 | Sweet Home, Oregon, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jun 1994 | Siai-Marchetti SF.260B | Prospect, Oregon, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jun 1994 | Schweizer SGS 1-26D | North Plains, Oregon, United States | Willamette Valley Soaring Club | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jun 1994 | Schweizer 269C | Hillsboro, Oregon, United States | Hillsboro Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jun 1994 | Cessna 150L | Hubbard, Oregon, United States | Cougar Aviation | No injuries | - |