# Accident 20020702013979A: Robsin R22BETA, Chatsworth, CA, July 2, 2002 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 2, 2002, 14:45 local time - Place: Chatsworth, CA - Damage: Substantial damage - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 34.2808° N, 118.6096° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2808&lon=-118.6096&mi=10 - Aircraft: N4072T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4072T-2003-09-19) (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 - Fatal injuries: 0 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA213) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020702013979A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON JULY 02, 2002, AT 1445 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A ROBINSON R22 BETA HELICOPTER, N4072T, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED FOLLOWING A LOSS OF CONTROL DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING NEAR CHATSWORTH, CALIFORNIA. THE PRIVATE PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND HIS PASSENGER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS OWNED BY THE DRAGONFLY CORPORATION OF DOVER, DELAWARE, AND WAS BEING OPERATED BY GROUP 3 AVIATION OF VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT FOR WHICH NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE LOCAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE VAN NUYS AIRPORT AT 1420. THE PILOT, WHO HAD ACCUMULATED OVER 380 FLIGHT HOURS IN THE R22 HELICOPTER, REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER DEVELOPED A VERY ABNORMAL VIBRATION WHILE EN-ROUTE TO A LOCAL PRACTICE AREA. THE PILOT ADDED THAT HE BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT THE UNUSUAL VIBRATION AND ELECTED TO LAND THE HELICOPTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO INVESTIGATE THE SOURCE OF THE VIBRATION. THE PILOT EXECUTED A POWER-ON APPROACH TO A TERRACED PAVED AREA LOCATED TO THE RIGHT OF HIS INTENDED COURSE. WHILE ON THE APPROACH ON A NORTHERLY HEADING, AS THE PILOT WAS FLARING THE HELICOPTER FOR A LANDING, CONTROL WAS LOST AFTER THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE TERRACED TERRAIN TO HIS RIGHT-FRONT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS PERFORMING "NORMALLY" AND HE DID NOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. HE ADDED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE WINDS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE FROM THE SOUTH AT AN ESTIMATED 10 TO 13 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS PERFORMING "NORMALLY" AND HE DID NOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. HE ADDED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE WINDS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE FROM THE SOUTH AT AN ESTIMATED 10 TO 13 KNOTS. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE PILOT, WHO WAS OCCUPYING THE RIGHT SEAT, EXITED THE HELICOPTER UNASSISTED, AND HE THEN ASSISTED THE INJURED PASSENGER IN EXITING THE HELICOPTER. THERE WAS NO FIRE. THERE WERE NO REPORTED EYE-WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT SUMMONED FOR HELP WITH HIS CELLULAR PHONE. (-23) THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY OFF FIELD LANDING DUE TO WHAT HE PERCEIVED AN UNUSUAL VIBRATION. THE PILOT EXECUTED A POWER-ON APPROACH TO A TERRACED PAVED AREA LOCATED TO THE RIGHT OF HIS INTENDED COURSE. WHILE ON THE APPROACH ON A NORTHERLY HEADING, AND THE PILOT WAS FLARING THE HELICOPTER FOR A LANDING, CONTROL WAS LOST AFTER THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE TERRACED TERRAIN TO HIS RIGHT FRONT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY AND HE DID NOT EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF POWER. HE STATED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE WINDS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE FROM THE SOUTH AT AN ESTIMATED 10 TO 13 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER TWICE AND CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE PILOT EXITED THE CRAFT UNASSISTED, THEN ASSISTED THE INJURED PASSENGER IN EXITING THE HELICOPTER. ## 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 LAX02LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA213), Jul 2, 2002: Robinson R22 Beta (N4072T), Chatsworth, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate flare resulting in rotor blade contact with the ground. Contributing factors were the high altitude and the airframe vibration for an undetermined reason. ## Other reports on N4072T (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20000122008879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000122008879A), Jan 22, 2000: Robsin R22BETA (N4072T), Piru, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Following a landing in the sandy river bottom in the Piru practice area (santa clara river near Piru, CA) and during the ensuing lift-off, the pilot,… - [Accident 19930311004959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930311004959A), Mar 11, 1993: Robsin R22BETA (N4072T), Folsom, CA, Substantial damage. High steep approach flared. Rotor RPM decayed. Landed hard bounced into air. Rolled over on second touchdown. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.