# Accident 19990914026739A: Robsin R22BETA, Azusa, CA, September 14, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 14, 1999, 12:30 local time
- Place: Azusa, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Go Round (Aborted VFR)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2805° N, 117.8699° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2805&lon=-117.8699&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8328Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8328Q-2002-07-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22BETA
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 235 total, 110 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA307) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990914026739A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON SEPTEMER 14, 1999, AT 1230 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A ROBINSON R-22, N8328Q, MADE A HARD LANDING IN AZUSA, CALIFORNIA. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE; HOWEVER, THE COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT BY UNIVERSAL AVIATORS ACADEMY, INC., UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91 WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE EL MONTE AIRPORT, EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA, AT 1100 ON THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS PRACTICING A PINNACLE APPROACH TO THE WEST WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED "SETTLING WITH POWER" DURING THE LAST 50 FEET OF THE APPROACH.  HE HEARD THE LOW RPM AUDIO AND TURNED OFF THE CARBURETOR HEAT.  STILL SETTLING, HE HAD NOW DROPPED BELOW THE PINNACLE AND SO INITIATED A TURN TO THE RIGHT.  AS THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO LOSE ALTITUDE, HE MADE A HARD LANDING IN A BRUSHY AREA.  THE HELICOPTER REMAINED UPRIGHT, COMING TO REST ON BOTH SKIDS.  A POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION BY THE OPERATOR REVEALED THAT THE TAILBOOM HAD BUCKLED.  SURFACE WINDS IN THE AREA WERE REPORTED AS  BEING FROM 270 TO 210 DEGREES AT 5 TO 8 KNOTS. (.4)WHILE PERFORMING A WESTBOUND PINNACLE APPROACH, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED SETTLING WITH POWER AND DECIDED TO GO AROUND. DURING THE GO-AROUND, THE LOW RPM AUDIO SOUNDED.  STILL SETTLING, THE AIRCRAFT WAS BELOW THE PINNACLE WHEN THE PILOT INITIATED A RIGHT TURN TOWARD LOWER TERRAIN.  UNABLE TO ARREST THE DESCENT OR CLEAR THE TERRAIN, THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD.  SURFACE WINDS AT THE CLOSEST REPORTING STATION WERE REPORTED AS BEING FROM 210 DEGREES AT 5 KNOTS.

## 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 LAX99LA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA307), Sep 14, 1999: Robinson R-22 (N8328Q), Azusa, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's delay in recognizing the settling with power condition while performing a pinnacle approach, thus delaying his attempted go-around.

## Other reports on N8328Q (1)

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

- [Accident 20000324009649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000324009649A), Mar 24, 2000: Robsin R22 (N8328Q), Rialto, CA, No damage, 1 fatal. (-23) Mr. Gary c. chiles holds a private certificate with a rating of airplane single engine land. Mr. Chiles was receiving heli training from universal…

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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