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NTSB Identification: WPR13CA064
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, December 07, 2012 in Roosevelt Lake, AZ
Probable Cause Approval Date: 04/10/2013
Aircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II, registration: N557AC
Injuries: 1 Serious,2 Minor.
NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The pilot descended the helicopter out of mountainous terrain and then continued over a large mountain lake, cruising about 100 knots at an altitude of about 200 to 250 feet. The lake water was very clear and perfectly calm. The pilot looked inside the cockpit to check instruments, and when he looked outside and below the helicopter, he experienced a feeling of mental confusion similar to vertigo. At this point the pilot estimated that the helicopter was between 15 and 20 feet above the water. He pulled aft on the cyclic, the helicopter impacted the water, pitched forward, and sank. The pilot and his two passengers were able to egress the helicopter while it was submerged.
Immediately after the accident the pilot told a park ranger who was on-scene that he was traveling a little low and thought he set a skid in the water. One of the passengers stated that moments before the collision with the water, the pilot had asked them if they wanted to get closer to the water and if they wanted to chase some birds.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's visual disorientation, which resulted in a collision with the lake.
The pilot descended the helicopter out of mountainous terrain and then continued over a large mountain lake, cruising about 100 knots, between 200 and 250 feet. The lake water was very clear and perfectly calm. The pilot looked inside the cockpit to check instruments, and when he looked outside and below the helicopter, he experienced a feeling of mental confusion similar to vertigo. At this point the pilot estimated that the helicopter was between 15 and 20 feet above the water. He pulled aft on the cyclic, the helicopter impacted the water, pitched forward, and sank. The pilot and his two passengers were able to egress the helicopter while it was submerged.
Immediately after the accident the pilot told a Park Ranger who was on-scene that he was traveling a little low and thinks he set a skid in the water. One of the passengers stated that moments before the collision with the water the pilot had asked them if they wanted to get closer to the water and if they wanted to chase some birds.
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 557AC Make/Model: R44 Description: R-44 Astro
Date: 12/07/2012 Time: 2200
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Serious Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
City: ROOSEVELT State: AZ Country: US
DESCRIPTION
N557AC ROBINSON R44 ROTORCRAFT CRASHED INTO A LAKE, ROSSEVELT, AZ
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 1 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 2 Fat: 0 Ser: 2 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: SCOTTSDALE, AZ (WP07) Entry date: 12/10/2012
ROOSEVELT LAKE, AZ - Authorities are investigating what caused a helicopter with multiple people on board to crash into Roosevelt Lake on Friday afternoon.
A Gila County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said the aircraft went down around 3 p.m, and is in 60 feet of water.
A pilot, along with a male and female passenger were on board when the helicopter crashed into the lake east of the Valley. According to GCSO, the passengers were pulled from the aircraft by nearby boaters who witnessed the crash.
Two medical helicopters flew the passengers to Phoenix hospitals for evaluations and treatment.
The extent of their injuries wasn't immediately clear and officials wouldn't release their names, ages or hometowns.
Authorities say the Robinson R44 was registered to an Alaskan company and it isn't immediately known why it went down.
Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the crash.
Source: http://www.abc15.com
PHOENIX -- Three people were transported to Phoenix-area hospitals after a helicopter crashed into Roosevelt Lake Friday afternoon.
The privately owned helicopter went into the water at about 3 p.m.
Lt. Tim Scott with the Gila County Sheriff's Office said the aircraft is in about 60 feet of water. Dive team members were called in.
A pilot and two passengers were on board the rotorcraft.
Scott said boaters who were close by heard the helicopter hit the water and rescued the three adults once they got out of the chopper.
They were treated at the scene then put on medical helicopters and flown from the area. The extent of their injuries is not known at this time.
No names have been released.
There is no word on what caused the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will be investigating.
Roosevelt Lake is about 90 minutes east of the Valley.
Source: http://www.azfamily.com
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