# Accident 19970512009889A: Robsin R22, Santa Margarita, CA, May 12, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 12, 1997, 18:30 local time
- Place: Santa Margarita, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Practice Training Manuevers
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3099° N, 120.2702° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3099&lon=-120.2702&mi=10
- Aircraft: N83795, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83795-2003-07-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 (registry code 7640102, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22
- Reported engine: LYC O320B2C
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 313 total, 177 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX97LA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA178) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970512009889A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

HELICOPTER LOST CONTROL ON TAKEOF AND CRASHED.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  (.4)THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000 FEET WHEN THE HELICOPTER TOOK OFF AND DEPARTED THE AREA. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT, MOMENTS LATER, THE HELICOPTER MADE A HIGH SPEED FLYBY IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT 2 OR 3 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AFTER WHICH THE PILOT MADE A CLIMBING, STEEP TURN AT A NEAR VERTICAL BANK ANGLE.  THE HELICOPTER THEN DESCENDED IN THE BANKED ATTITUDE UNTIL IT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE RECALLED HEARING THE LOW ROTOR RPM WARNING HORN BEFORE IMPACT AND THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRCRAFT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX97LA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA178), May 12, 1997: Robinson R-22 (N83795), Santa Margarita, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to maintain adequate rotor rpm during a low pass maneuvering flight resulting in loss of control. High density altitude was a factor in the accident.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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