19961214039419A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robsin R22 BETA · Lakeport, CA · December 14, 1996

Date: December 14, 1996 · 16:45 local
Place: Lakeport, CA
Airport: Lampson Airport
Phase of flight: Hovering
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N8311A
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX97LA068
Reported as: Robsin R22BETA
Reported engine: Lycoming O320B2C
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 450 total320 in this make and model16 in the last 90 days

N8311ARegistration cancelled Oct 15, 2025 · Robinson Helicopter R22 BETAS/N 2442 · Built 1994 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R22 BETA Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Hovering in ground effect. Student over controlled. CFI late to act. Main rotors hit. Plane rolled over.

As the FAA filed it

HOVERING IN GROUND EFFECT. STUDENT OVER CONTROLLED. CFI LATE TO ACT. MAIN ROTORS HIT. PLANE ROLLED OVER.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX97LA068Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLakeport, CAinadequate supervision by the flight instructor (CFI), and his delayed corrective action to the student pilot's abrupt control inputs, thereby allowing the main rotor blades to strike the ground. Factors relating to the accident were: the CFI's lack of…Dec 15, 1996 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N8311A · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 20150213001099IHover/Holding · Riverside, CAStudent pilot [privacy data omitted], was on his first solo flight, and was hovering over runway 16, in ral airport and almost lost full control, of helicopter N8311A and was able to make a hard landing back on the ground, with minor damage. No injuries.Feb 13, 2015 · Minor damage Accident 19950508010879AFinal Approach · Toano, VAReturning at night to unlighted boat helipad. Descended into water 500FT short. Drowned. Victim night illusion.May 8, 1995 · Substantial damage · 1 fatal