# Accident 19980501008239A: Robsin R22, Irwindale, CA, May 1, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 1, 1998, 14:02 local time
- Place: Irwindale, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Pwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.0909° N, 117.9603° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0909&lon=-117.9603&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8365D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8365D-2000-02-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 (registry code 7640102, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98FA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA149) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980501008239A

## Narrative

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

STRUCK WIRE AND CRASHED DURING PRACTICE AUTOROTAIONS IN A DRAINAGE BASIN. (-23) ON MAY 1, 1998, AT APPROXIMATELY 1402 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A ROBINSON R22 HELICOPTER, N8365D, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED POWER TRANSMISSION LINES APPROXIMATELY 65 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AND THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT IN IRWINDALE, CALIFORNIA. THE COMMERCIALLY LICENSED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS FATALLY INJURED AND THE STUDENT PILOT ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED FOR THE LOCAL AREA INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WHICH DEPARTED FROM BRACKETT FIELD, LA VERNE, CALIFORNIA, AT 1313 LOCAL TIME. THE 10-HOUR STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, HE AND HIS INSTRUCTOR HAD PERFORMED SEVERAL AUTOROTATIONS AND NORMAL APPROACHES TO SITES CHOSEN BY THE INSTRUCTOR IN THE SANTA FE FLOOD CONTROL BASIN. THE STUDENT WAS FLYING THE HELICOPTER AND THE INSTRUCTOR WAS FOLLOWING ON THE CONTROLS. THEY WERE PERFORMING A NORMAL APPROACH TO A LANDING AREA WHEN BOTH THE STUDENT AND INSTRUCTOR WERE STARTLED TO SEE WIRES IN FRONT OF THEM. THE STUDENT SAID THAT THE INSTRUCTOR MADE AN EXCLAMATION AND TOOK CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. THE INSTRUCTOR PLACED THE HELI COPTER IN A STEEP BANK BUT WAS UNABLE TO PREVENT IMPACTING THE WIRES. THE STUDENT REMEMBERED SEEING "LIGHTNING" AROUND THE AIRCRAFT ON IMPACT (ARCING FROM THE WIRES). AFTER IMPACT THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND LANDED ON ITS LEFT SIDE. BEING SEATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE THE STUDENT WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE FROM THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE STUDENT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE TRANSMISSION LINES.

## 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 LAX98FA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA149), May 1, 1998: Robinson R22 (N8365D), Irwindale, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to observe in a timely manner and maintain clearance from electrical power transmission wires and her improper maneuver to avoid the obstruction.

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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