# Accident 19980226006829A: Robsin R22ALPHA, Little Rock, CA, February 26, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 26, 1998, 13:18 local time
- Place: Little Rock, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.4797° N, 117.9801° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4797&lon=-117.9801&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8457J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8457J-1998-09-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 ALPHA (registry code 7640104, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-alpha) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22ALPHA
- Reported engine: LYC O320B2C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 1,932 total, 187 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98FA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA098) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980226006829A

## Narrative

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

GUSTY WIND IN AREA OBSERVED TO DIVE INTO GROUND. INDICATES MAIN ROTORS FLEXED HIT DOOR AND BUBBLE PRIOR CRASHING. (.4) WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING THE AIRCRAFT FLY OVERHEAD, THEN A 'SCHWAP' SOUND, FOLLOWED BY SILENCE. THEY LOOKED UP AND SAW THE HELICOPTER FALLING VERTICALLY TO THE GROUND. POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE HAD ENTERED THE COCKPIT THROUGH THE LEFT WINDSHIELD HALF AND CUT THE CABIN FLOOR AFT TO THE LEFT SEAT. THE LOCATION OF AN INDENTATION IN THE CYCLIC CONTROL CROSSTUBE, MADE BY THE ROTOR BLADE, CORRESPONDED TO THE CYCLIC CONTROL HAVING BEEN ABOUT IN THE FULL LEFT CONTROL POSITION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION PRIOR TO THE ROTOR DIVERGENCE. A REPORT OF METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS BY THE SAFETY BOARD SHOWED CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO MOUNTAIN WAVE TURBULENCE, AND THERE WERE PILOT REPORTS OF MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT. AN AIRMET WAS IN EFFECT, CALLING FOR OCCASIONAL MODERATE TURBULENCE. THE PILOT DID NOT RECEIVE A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING. THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO 'MINIMIZE CYCLIC CONTROL INPUTS IN TURBULENCE; DO NOT OVERCONTROL' AND TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT 'AS SOON AS PRACTICAL.' A MANUFACTURER'S SAFETY NOTICE REGARDING FLIGHT IN HIGH WINDS OR TURBULENCE ADVISED PILOTS 'DO NOT OVERCONTROL. AVOID LARGE OR ABRUPT CONTROLMOVEMENTS. ALLOW THE AIRCRAFT TO GO WITH THE TURBULENCE, THEN RESTORE LEVEL FLIGHT WITH SMOOTH, GENTLE CONTROL INPUTS.' (-23) MAIN ROTOR PENETRATED COCKPIT/LEFT FRONT.

## 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 LAX98FA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA098), Feb 26, 1998: Robinson R22 (N8457J), Littlerock, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's improper use of the rotorcraft cyclic control in response to encountering terrain induced turbulence. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to obtain a preflight weather…

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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