Robinson R-22 BETA accident near Escondido, CA
On November 5, 2001, a Robinson R-22 BETA (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Escondido, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 5, 2001
- Place
- Escondido, CA
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 BETA · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.185°N, 117.127°W
- NTSB ID
- 20011120X02275
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 4, 2001, about 1800 Pacific standard time, a Robinson R-22 Beta helicopter, N7197Y, collided with trees in an avocado grove and terrain near Escondido, California. Farm workers found the wreckage on the morning of November 6, 2001. The pilot/owner was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and the private pilot rated passenger sustained fatal injuries; the helicopter was destroyed. The helicopter was believed to have departed Oceanside Municipal Airport (OKB), Oceanside, California, about 15 minutes prior to the accident. The primary wreckage was located at 33 degrees 11.113 minutes north latitude and 117 degrees 07.621 minutes west longitude. The wreckage was about 100 yards from a landing pad on the pilot's property. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accident coordinator interviewed witnesses at Oceanside, which was about 10 nautical miles (nm) west of the pilot's home. The witnesses had observed the pilot fly the helicopter at the airport several times on Sunday, November 4. The pilot's instructor said that they completed an instructional flight in the pilot's Beech Baron. They landed about 1700 on Sunday, November 4, and debriefed the flight. The instructor left the airport about 1730. Family representatives stated that the pilot did not report to work on Monday. A calendar in the home was set to Sunday. The Sunday newspaper had been opened and was on a table; the Monday newspaper was still in the mailbox. They said that the pilot always approached the pad from the northeast. PERSONNEL
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate clearance from obstacles while approaching to land at his private helipad. Factors in the accident were night conditions, inadequate illumination of the landing pad, and a likely low visibility condition due to fog.
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Browse: California · Robinson aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
