Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta accident near Baker, CA
On September 20, 2005, a Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Baker, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 20, 2005
- Place
- Baker, CA
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 35.649°N, 115.830°W
- NTSB ID
- 20050927X01538
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 20, 2005, about 1600 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, N957SH, collided with mountainous terrain 30 miles northeast of Baker, California, while on a cross-country flight. Silver State Helicopters operated the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot was fatally injured and the helicopter was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions generally prevailed along the route of flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The positioning cross-country flight originated at Zamperini Field, Torrance, California, at 1425, with an intended destination of North Las Vegas Airport, Nevada. Silver State Helicopters was taking delivery of 12 helicopters and sent a number of pilots to the Robinson Helicopter Company, Torrance, on September 20th to take possession of these new ships and fly them to their destinations. The weather at Torrance when they arrived was below VFR (visual flight rules) minimums. The pilots delayed their departure until after lunch when the weather began to clear up. One of the people who had lunch with the accident pilot stated that the accident pilot was anxious to get going, saying he had to be home in Las Vegas by 1600. The accident pilot also was observed receiving a number of calls on his mobile phone in which he was overheard saying he would be home by 1600. The accident pilot was the fourth helicopter in a loose trail of four helicopters that were separated about 15 minutes apart, all traveling to the east. The helicopters started taking off around 1400, and it is estimated tha
Probable cause
The pilot's continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions that resulted in a collision with mountainous terrain. Contributing to the accident was the obscuration of mountainous terrain by rain and low clouds, moderate turbulence, and the pilot's self-induced pressure to be at his destination by 1600.
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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.
