ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 195908
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| Date: | Saturday 3 June 2017 |
| Time: | 14:37 |
| Type: |  Robinson R44 Raven II |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N7091F |
| MSN: | 13910 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2015 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 177 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Dimmit, near Farwell, TX -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Executive |
| Departure airport: | Farwell, TX (PVT) |
| Farwell, TX (PVT) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The private pilot, who did not hold a rotorcraft rating, departed in the helicopter on a routine flight to check and observe crop fields, business facilities, and other business-related assets. A search was initiated when the pilot did not return from the flight, and the accident site was located in a field the following morning. There were no witnesses to the accident. Data obtained from an onboard GPS showed the helicopter making a series of turns at a low altitude above the field in which the wreckage was located. Examination of the helicopter did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions and there was no damage to nearby obstructions to suggest an in-flight collision.
The pilot's autopsy revealed scarring in heart muscle from previous heart attacks and severe left ventricular hypertrophy. Each of these findings significantly increased his risk for a sudden arrhythmia. Such an arrhythmia would likely cause sudden symptoms such as palpitations or altered/decreased consciousness as a result of diminished blood pressure. It is likely that scarring from previous heart attacks and severe hypertrophy of the left ventricular wall caused arrhythmia which resulted in incapacitation and a loss of control at low altitude. Although the pilot did not hold a rating for rotorcraft, his recent flight experience in the accident helicopter performing similar flight profiles make it unlikely that he simply lost helicopter control.
Probable Cause: The pilot's incapacitation due to scarring from previous heart attacks and severe hypertrophy of the left ventricular wall which resulted in arrhythmia and a loss of control while maneuvering at low altitude.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=7091F
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 04-Jun-2017 18:11 | Aerossurance | Added |
| 05-Jun-2017 10:42 | gerard57 | Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Phase, Nature, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 05-Jun-2017 18:04 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Location, Source, Damage] |
| 06-Jul-2017 13:40 | Aerossurance | Updated [Departure airport, Damage, Narrative] |
| 22-Mar-2019 19:09 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report, ] |
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