RobinsonR22

October 1, 2021, Chandler, Ariz. Robinson R22/Piper PA-28-181 At about 0740 Mountain time, the Piper airplane and Robinson helicopter collided in midair. The airplane sustained minor damage; the flight instructor and student aboard it were not injured. The helicopter was destroyed; its flight instructor and student were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Both aircraft were […]

The helicopter was substantially damaged during impact with terrain while maneuvering at low altitude at about 1120 Central time. The commercial pilot and sole passenger were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

The commercial pilot was maneuvering the helicopter over a rice field when the tail rotor “dipped into the rice causing it to fail.” As a result, he lost control of the helicopter and it impacted the ground hard, causing the main rotor blade to flex and sever the tail boom.

The helicopter was destroyed when it impacted an Interstate highway at about 2255 Pacific time. The private pilot and sole occupant was killed. Visual conditions prevailed. A witness reported the helicopter was flying unusually low, not much higher than a typical freeway overpass. He observed a bright spark near the helicopter, which then dove toward the freeway, impacting the pavement directly in front of him.

The helicopter sustained substantial damage at 1000 Mountain time when it descended uncontrollably, struck trees and impacted terrain. Visual conditions prevailed. The solo student pilot was maneuvering in a low-lying area surrounded by trees. While making a right turn, the helicopter began to settle. The main rotor struck a tree and the helicopter impacted terrain.

The helicopter was substantially damaged when it rolled over onto its side during an off-airport precautionary landing at approximately 1130 Mountain time. The Commercial pilot and his passenger received minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.

At about 1145 Pacific time, the helicopter impacted trees and mountainous terrain. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the two Private pilots aboard, a married couple, were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed at the departure airport for the cross-country flight. Witnesses observed the helicopters takeoff, during which it wobbled from side to side and then settled to the ground with one of its landing skids making ground contact. The helicopter spun around 180 degrees and lifted back up into the air, its main main rotor blades narrowly missing the ground. It then settled back to the surface, the tail rotor narrowly missing the ground. After idling on the ground for a while…

At about 0935 Pacific time, the helicopter was destroyed after impacting terrain during an uncontrolled descent while maneuvering near Arlington, Wash. The flight instructor and the pilot-rated student sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed for the local flight that departed the Arlington Municipal Airport, Arlington, Wash., at approximately 0930. Numerous witnesses saw the helicopter flying over the area before it impacted the ground. One witness reported hearing the helicopter …make a loud bang, then watched it fall from the sky. Another witness reported seeing the helicopter flying north from AWO, …and as it disappeared into the distance I heard a large prolonged sh…

At 0800 central time, a Robinson R-22 Beta rolled over during takeoff from Ardmore Downtown Executive Airport. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The pilot said a Cessna 172 was parked approximately 30 feet behind the helicopter and faced the opposite direction. As the helicopter lifted off, the Cessna 172s engine started, and the pilot feels that this caused the loss of control on takeoff….

At 1137 mountain time, a Robinson R22 Beta struck power lines and crashed near Dolan Springs. The pilot and passenger were killed. The flight originated from Las Vegas, Nev., at an unknown time. A witness said the helicopter was flying over his lane on Interstate 93 about 30 miles north of Kingman when it struck the power lines. Indications are that the wires were about 30 feet agl at their lowest point between poles….