Summary
On September 28, 2009, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II (N29LE) was involved in an accident near Mt Charleston, NV. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury, with 2 people uninjured out of 3 aboard. The aircraft was destroyed.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and terrain clearance while maneuvering at a low altitude above high terrain. Contributing to the accident was a downdraft and high density altitude.
The pilot stated that he was orbiting at 50 knots about 100 feet above the 11,800-foot msl (mean sea level) mountain peak. As he flew the helicopter out of the leeward side of the peak, he encountered a downdraft. He maneuvered the helicopter towards a wide open valley that descended about 5,000 feet below. The downdraft pushed the helicopter into the face of the mountain despite the pilot's application of full collective, and descending flight into the valley. The helicopter impacted the mountain slope, caught fire, and tumbled. The pilot and his two passengers egressed the burning helicopter with minor injuries.
This accident is documented in NTSB report WPR09CA470. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N29LE.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and terrain clearance while maneuvering at a low altitude above high terrain. Contributing to the accident was a downdraft and high density altitude.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The pilot stated that he was orbiting at 50 knots about 100 feet above the 11,800-foot msl (mean sea level) mountain peak. As he flew the helicopter out of the leeward side of the peak, he encountered a downdraft. He maneuvered the helicopter towards a wide open valley that descended about 5,000 feet below. The downdraft pushed the helicopter into the face of the mountain despite the pilot's application of full collective, and descending flight into the valley. The helicopter impacted the mountain slope, caught fire, and tumbled. The pilot and his two passengers egressed the burning helicopter with minor injuries. The pilot hiked to the peak, and called for rescue using a cell phone.
The calculated density altitude for the conditions at 11,800 feet msl, altimeter 29.78 inHg, and temperature of 47 degrees F, is 13,918 feet. The published maximum operating density altitude for the R-44 II is 14,000 feet.
The pilot stated that the helicopter had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR09CA470