ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 243903
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| Date: | Friday 16 October 2020 |
| Time: | 10:00 LT |
| Type: |  Robinson R44 Raven |
| Owner/operator: | Spring Mountain Raceway LLC |
| Registration: | N500DL |
| MSN: | 1178 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2002 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2406 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-540-F1B5 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club, Pahrump, NV -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Executive |
| Departure airport: | Pahrump, NV |
| Pahrump, NV | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot reported that, he maneuvered the helicopter to a low and slow hover over a recreational lake. The helicopter was facing into the sun, and the sun's reflection off the water produced a 'significant glare.' The pilot lost his visual orientation with the water and sky, and when he realized that he was too low and saw water on the nose bubble, he attempted to increase collective, to increase altitude but was unable to do so. The pilot turned the helicopter on its side to stop the main rotor blades. The helicopter subsequently collided with the water and sank. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main and tail rotor drive systems. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter which would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while hovering low over a body a water while facing into the sun, which resulted in a loss of visual reference and subsequent impact with the lake surface.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB WPR21LA021
FAA register: https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N500DL
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 17-Oct-2020 03:51 | Geno | Added |
| 17-Oct-2020 14:57 | Notarhelicopters | Updated [Aircraft type, Total occupants, Source, Narrative] |
| 17-Oct-2020 16:16 | Aerossurance | Updated [Aircraft type, Damage, Narrative] |
| 19-Oct-2020 15:24 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Phase, Nature, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 19-Oct-2020 15:44 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Phase, Nature, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 21-Oct-2020 01:17 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Phase, Nature, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 21-Oct-2020 01:32 | RobertMB | Updated [Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 21-Oct-2020 01:38 | RobertMB | Updated [Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 22-Oct-2020 11:27 | Captain Adam | Updated [Narrative] |
| 07-Jul-2022 18:23 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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