History of Flight
On October 24, 2017, about 1315 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R22 Alpha helicopter (N8537J) was substantially damaged when it struck the water at King Lake near Arlington, Washington. The commercial pilot was fatally injured, and the passenger received minor injuries. The helicopter was owned and operated by the pilot as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91. It departed from the pilot's residence, about 1,350 feet south-southwest of the accident site, approximately five minutes before the accident.
According to the passenger, he arrived at the pilot's residence around 1200. After discussing a flight, the pilot assessed the weather and decided to fly to Arlington Airport for fuel. The pilot preflighted the helicopter, and both occupants secured seat belts and shoulder harnesses. The engine was started and warmed up before departure. After circling the residence, the pilot brought the helicopter to a hover near the departure point, where the pilot's wife took photographs and gave a thumbs-up. The pilot then flew toward King Lake. During the approach, the pilot descended close to the water and hovered while the passenger took pictures. Shortly thereafter, the helicopter dipped to the right, and the main rotor blades struck the water. The helicopter listed onto its right side and began sinking. The passenger unbuckled, crawled through the left door, and surfaced. He saw the pilot come to the surface, but the pilot stated he could not swim. The passenger attempted to tow him to shore but had to let go due to the distance. The passenger was subsequently rescued by a first responder in a small boat. The pilot was brought to shore and CPR was performed.
Witness Statements
A witness living less than 100 yards west of the accident site reported observing the helicopter come over the trees and descend to fly over the lake from south to north. He stated the pilot had performed similar maneuvers many times, sometimes hovering over the center of the lake. On this occasion, the helicopter dropped about 6 feet from the surface, and the skids hit the water. The helicopter then dove forward, hitting the water with an explosive sound, and parts flew off. The engine sounded normal.
A second witness, who lived with the first, heard the helicopter approaching from the direction of the pilot's residence. She saw it flying fast over the trees, then swooping down to fly fast over the water. The skids touched the water, and the helicopter exploded into pieces. She noted the pilot flew regularly and knew the lake well, and that this time he was not hovering but zooming about 3 feet above the water when he went down. The engine sounded normal.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane multiengine land, single-engine land, rotorcraft-helicopter, and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on May 3, 2007, with a limitation for corrective lenses. On the application, he reported 5,100 total flight hours with 100 hours in the previous six months. No flight records were located during the investigation. The medical certificate expired on May 31, 2009, and the pilot never reapplied or qualified under Basic Med.
Aircraft Information
The two-seat Robinson R22 Alpha helicopter (serial number 0441) was manufactured in 1984. It was powered by a Lycoming O-320-B2C engine rated at 160 horsepower. Airframe and engine times could not be determined due to the lack of recovered maintenance records. The Hobbs meter recorded 3,334.8 hours. FAA records show the helicopter was deregistered in May 2015.
Meteorological Information
At 1256, the weather reporting facility at Arlington Municipal Airport, about 6 nautical miles west-northwest of the accident site, reported wind from 320° at 7 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear sky, temperature 16°C, dew point 9°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.42 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
An examination of the accident site was performed about two hours after the accident. The helicopter impacted the water on a northerly heading in the mid-lake area and sank. Only remnants of the main rotor blades were recovered initially. The helicopter was recovered on October 30. After recovery, it was found primarily intact, except for the separated aft tail boom and right windscreen. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine conducted on December 12, 2018, revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed on November 26, 2017, determined the cause of death to be freshwater drowning. Toxicology testing identified atropine in the blood; no carbon monoxide, alcohol, or other drugs were detected. Testing for cyanide was not performed.