Robinson R22 BETA N139RJ
24 March 2009 · Chowchilla, California, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 24 March 2009 at about 13:39 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N139RJ, operated by American Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Chowchilla, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously 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 13:39
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Chowchilla, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Chowchilla (2O6)
- Coordinates
- 37.1258, -120.2036
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA
- Registration
- N139RJ
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- American Helicopters
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Fresno → Chowchilla
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Dawn
- NTSB number
- WPR09CA163
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot of the helicopter was flying over an agricultural field at dawn performing frost control. He flew three passes over the field at a low altitude in order to distribute warm air onto the crops. During the passes, he observed power lines in the vicinity. On the fourth pass he descended to about 50 feet agl and lost sight of the power lines. Concerned that he may collide with them, he began to turn right. Halfway through the turn the main rotor blades struck the power lines. The helicopter descended to the ground, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and rotor system. The pilot said that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R22 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Feb 2009 | Robinson R22 BETA | O'Donnell, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Jun 2009 | Robinson R22 BETA | Morristown, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 21 Jul 2009 | Robinson R22 BETA | Jerome, Arizona, United States | Guidance Helicopters, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Apr 2009 | Robinson R22 BETA | Harlingen, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 Apr 2009 | Robinson R22 BETA | New Braunfels, Texas, United States | Spitzer Matthew | No injuries | - |
| 14 Oct 2009 | Robinson R22 BETA | Tahlequah, Oklahoma, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Apr 2009 | Cessna 172P | Livermore, California, United States | Wollard Aviation Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 10 Dec 2009 | Piper PA-38-112 | Ojai, California, United States | Aviation Pacific Inc | Fatal | 2 |
| 28 Feb 2009 | Piper PA-28R-200 | Fallbrook, California, United States | M.Y. Air Corp | No injuries | - |
| 28 Feb 2009 | Mooney M20E | Rio Linda, California, United States | David Michaud | Fatal | 2 |
| 29 Nov 2009 | Curtiss-Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000 | Torrance, California, United States | Smith Richard Charles | No injuries | - |
| 23 Aug 2009 | Piper PA-24-260 | Santa Barbara, California, United States | Kris S Michel | No injuries | - |