What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) December 20, 2003, at 1530 pacific standard time, a Robinson R22 beta, N7189U, made a forced landing in mountainous terrain about 12 miles east of the French Valley Airport (F70), Murrieta/temecula, California. The private pilot operated the rented helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91. The helicopter was put down on uneven terrain and rolled to the bottom of a ravine and sustained substantial damage. The pilot sustained minor injuries while the passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area. Investigation revealed that the aircraft departed F70 86.3 lbs over maximum takeoff weigh. Teardown inspection, and subsequent test cell run of the installed engine, revealed that the engine operated within normal limits and was not a factor in this accident. The helicopter was found to have been properly maintained within the time specifications of the manufacturer and the requirements of 14 CFR part 141/45.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) DECEMBER 20, 2003, AT 1530 PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A ROBINSON R22 BETA, N7189U, MADE A FORCED LANDING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN ABOUT 12 MILES EAST OF THE FRENCH VALLEY AIRPORT (F70), MURRIETA/TEMECULA, CALIFORNIA. THE PRIVATE PILOT OPERATED THE RENTED HELICOPTER UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE HELICOPTER WAS PUT DOWN ON UNEVEN TERRAIN AND ROLLED TO THE BOTTOM OF A RAVINE AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES WHILE THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE LOCAL AREA. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED F70 86.3 LBS OVER MAXIMUM TAKEOFF WEIGH. TEARDOWN INSPECTION, AND SUBSEQUENT TEST CELL RUN OF THE INSTALLED ENGINE, REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE OPERATED WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS AND WAS NOT A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT. THE HELICOPTER WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED WITHIN THE TIME SPECIFICATIONS OF THE MANUFACTURER AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF 14 CFR PART 141/45.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.