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DEN07LA167

2007-09-29 · Silver City, New Mexico, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Current FAA registration · N74557

Make / Model
ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
Year of manufacture
2005 · 2 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING O-360 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20050719
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AA0844

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter resulting in his settling with power and subsequent impact with terrain. A factor contributing to the accident was the trees.

Factual narrative

On September 29, 2007, at 1000 mountain daylight time, a Robinson R-22 BETA, N74557, piloted by a solo student pilot, descended uncontrollably, struck trees, and impacted terrain 40 miles northwest of Silver City, New Mexico. The local personal flight was being conducted without a flight plan under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The student pilot was not injured and the helicopter was substantially damaged. The flight originated from a private ranch at Douglas, Arizona, at 0630. The student pilot reported that he was tying to locate a fence in the bottom of a narrow canyon . As he was making a turn, the helicopter encountered a tailwind which caused it to settle. The main rotor struck a tree and the helicopter subsequently impacted the terrain. The helicopter was found resting on it's left side. An examination of the helicopter showed substantial damage to the cabin area and the main rotor separated. An examination of the helicopter systems showed no anomalies. The student pilot reported that he was tying to locate a fence in the bottom of a narrow canyon . As he was making a turn, the helicopter encountered a tailwind which caused it to settle. The main rotor struck a tree and the helicopter subsequently impacted the terrain. An examination of the helicopter systems showed no anomalies. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2007_DEN07LA167.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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