# Accident 20020221001959A: Robsin R22BETA, Glendora, CA, February 21, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 21, 2002, 13:30 local time
- Place: Glendora, CA
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.1728° N, 117.8511° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1728&lon=-117.8511&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8045K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8045K) (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
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02FA088) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020221001959A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON FEBRUARY 21, 2002, ABOUT 1330 HOURS PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A ROBINSON R22 BETA, N8045K, EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE MANEUVERING OVER A MOUNTAIN PEAK NEAR GLENDORA, CALIFORNIA. THE PILOT AUTOROTATED TO A SOFT TOUCHDOWN ON THE UNEVEN MOUNTAINSIDE WHEREUPON THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. NEITHER THE COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATED PILOT NOR THE SECOND PILOT WAS INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATED BY THE UNIVERSAL AIR ACADEMY, INC., EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA, AND IT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS PERFORMED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91, AND IT ORIGINATED FROM EL MONTE ABOUT 1300. ACCORDING TO THE TWO PILOTS, THEY HAD PERFORMED A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION PRIOR TO TAKING OFF, AND ALL SYSTEMS WERE FOUND FUNCTIONAL. DURING THE FLIGHT THE SECOND PILOT PERFORMED AN ORBIT AROUND A MOUNTAIN PEAK, ABOUT 2,900 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. NEARING THE CONCLUSION OF THE SECOND ORBIT, THE HELICOPTER SUDDENLY COMMENCED DESCENDING. THE FIRST PILOT, WHO POSSESSED A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE, TOOK THE CONTROLS. AT THE TIME, BOTH PILOTS OBSERVED THAT THE MAIN ROTOR AND ENGINE RPM HAD DECREASED TO BETWEEN 80 AND90 PERCENT. NO LOW ROTOR WARNING HORN WAS HEARD, AND NO ANNUNCIATOR LIGHT WAS OBSERVED. ALSO, NEITHER PILOT REPORTED HAVING FELT ANY UNUSUAL VIBRATION. THE FIRST PILOT REPORTED THAT HE TURNED INTO THE WIND AND AUTOROTATED TO A LANDING. THE TOUCHDOWN WAS SOFT. SECONDS LATER, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON THE HILLY TERRAIN. (-23) ON FEBRUARY 21, 2002, AT APPROXIMATELY 1330 HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING IN THE SAN GABRIEL, CA MOUNTAINS WHEN PILOT NOTICED A SUDDEN ENGINE AND ROTOR RPM DECREASE. SUBSEQUENTLY, AIRCRAFT LOST POWER, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, COLLIDED WITH HILLY TERRAIN AND ROLLED ON IT'S RIGHT SIDE. PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO EVACUATE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INJURY.                           AMENDMENT: DURING THE REEXAM, 44709 PROCESS, BOTH PILOTS CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS AGREED BEFORE THE FLIGHT THAT MR. DIAZ WOULD BE THE PIC FOR THE FLIGHT. CFI HELSCH DID TAKE THE CONTROLS DURING THE LANDING. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

## 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 LAX02FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02FA088), Feb 21, 2002: Robinson R22 Beta (N8045K), Glendora, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision. Contributing factors were the high helicopter gross weight and density altitude, and the…

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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