Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro Aero Academy, LLC; Hillsboro, Oregon
Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
http://registry.faa.gov/N7526S
Location: Portland, OR
Accident Number: WPR18LA130
Date & Time: 05/01/2018, 1700 PDT
Registration: N7526S
Aircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On May 1, 2018, about 1700 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R-22 Beta II, N7526S, impacted terrain while maneuvering near Scappoose/ Sauvie Island, Oregon. The commercial pilot was seriously injured, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Hillsboro Aero Academy, LLC as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which operated on a visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Aurora State Airport, Aurora, Oregon, about 1639 with an intended destination of Portland-Hillsboro Airport, Portland, Oregon.
The National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-in-Charge was unable to obtain an initial statement from the pilot due to the extent of his injuries. The helicopter was recovered to a secure location for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Manufacturer: ROBINSON HELICOPTER
Registration: N7526S
Model/Series: R22 BETA BETA
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Amateur Built:
Operator: HILLSBORO AERO ACADEMY LLC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Pilot School (141)
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site:
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation: KHIO, 204 ft msl
Observation Time: 2353 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 10 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 14°C / 7°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 8 knots, 320°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 4000 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.07 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Departure Point: AURORA, OR (UAO)
Destination: PORTLAND, OR (HIO)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 45.701389, -122.850278 (est)
Clayton Hletko was flying the helicopter on May 1st, 2018. His sister says he was on a qualifying flight for a commercial license. His injuries are serious and extensive.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Emergency crews responded to a helicopter crash on Sauvie Island on Tuesday afternoon.
The pilot was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office said. He was the only person on board.
Reports came in about 5:10 p.m. of an aircraft emergency off of NW Oak Island Road.
Sgt. Brandon White said the pilot, a man, was in a great deal of pain and suffered injuries to his legs.
"Pretty amazing that he was able to land in the middle of the field, didn't hit any houses, didn't hit the power lines. So kudos to the pilot in an emergency situation in being able to bring his helicopter down into a non-populated area away from everybody," he said.
The pilot, Clayton Hletko, 31, is a retired U.S. Navy veteran who went to school on his GI Bill to get his helicopter pilot's license, his sister, Desiree Evans, told KATU Tuesday night. She said her brother is taking a few tests so he can fly commercially.
"He was out there doing his solo flight, and the fact that he landed that aircraft away from houses or places where other people would get hurt, that just speaks to his abilities, and how dedicated he is to doing a good job, no matter what he does," Evans told KATU via phone.
She said Hletko has extensive injuries and the family is focusing on his recovery. She asked for everyone's prayers.
She said her brother worked on aircraft while in the Navy and described him as "meticulous about everything."
Evans drove from Seattle to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland to be with her brother. Other family members are on their way.
The helicopter is registered to the Hillsboro Aero Academy. It was a R-22 Beta built in 2004.
Deputies plan to stay at the scene until officials with the National Transportation Safety Board arrive to take over the investigation and determine what caused the crash.
Original article can be found here ➤ http://katu.com
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- The pilot of a Robinson 22 Beta helicopter was seriously injured after crashing on Sauvie Island shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The pilot, who was the only person on board, was said to be conscious and breathing and "in a lot of pain," said Sgt. Brandon White with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.
"It looked like a lot of the dash was kind of collapsed on the pilot," White said.
The pilot was rushed to the hospital for treatment of his undisclosed injuries.
Deputies from the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office plus fire crews and an AMR ambulance responded to the scene.
The helicopter belongs to the Hillsboro Aero Academy, according to its tail number. Hillsboro Aero Academy is "one of the largest helicopter and airplane flight schools in the United States," according to the company website.
The FAA said the helicopter crashed "under unknown circumstances."
Dave Gamroth lives nearby where the crash happened. He's a pilot himself. He said he just got home when he saw the helicopter hit the open field.
"Planes are safe, helicopters are safe, but it could be a pilot error, could be a mechanical issue," Gamroth said, "it's life, so accidents happen."
The crash could've been a lot of worse. White said the pilot's landing -- in an open field near Sauvie Island -- was impressively accurate.
"Pretty amazing that he was able to land in the middle of the field," White said, "didn't hit any of the houses -- any of the power lines."
The FAA and the NTSB will continue to investigate the crash.
Story and video ➤ http://www.koin.com
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