# Incident 20040323004109I: Robsin R44, Torrance, CA, March 23, 2004

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 23, 2004, 07:10 local time
- Place: Torrance, CA
- Phase of flight: Sfl Autorotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8305° N, 118.3566° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Torrance, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8305&lon=-118.3566&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7166H (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R44
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040323004109I

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON MARCH 23, 2004 AT 0710 PST, ROBINSON R-44 HELICOPTER N7166H EXPERIENCED AN UNEXPECTED ENGINE SHUTDOWN DURING PRODUCTION FLIGHT TESTING. THE PILOT PERFORMED AN AUTOROTATION EMERGENCY LANDING IN THE TORRANCE BEACH PARKING LOT. PILOT STATED HE WAS TESTING AUTOROTATION NUMBERS AT 2000 FT AGL OVER THE OCEAN, AND WHEN HE ROLLED THE THROTTLE OFF, THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. HE ATTEMPTED TWO RESTARTS WITH NO SUCCESS, AND AUTOROTATED INTO THE BEACH PARKING LOT. AIRCRAFT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE ROBINSON FACILITY AT TOA. AIRCRAFT INSPECTION REVEALED NO AIRFRAME DAMAGE. GROUND TESTING OF THE HELICOPTER DID NOT REVEAL AN OBVIOUS MECHANICAL ANOMALY, AND INCLUDED TESTING OF THE MECHANICAL FUEL LINKAGE, FUEL CONTAMINATION, FUEL FLOW, AIR INLET CONTAMINATION AND VALVE OPERATION, GROUND ENGINE RAN AND HOVER TESTING WITH ABRUPT THROTTLE MOVEMENTS. ROBINSON FLIGHT TEST ENGINEERS WILL PREPARE A FLIGHT TEST PLAN TO SIMULATE THE FLIGHT CONDITIONS AND THROTTLE MOVEMENTS THAT LED TO THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN. FSDO TRANSFERRED INVESTIGATION TO LAACO AND MIDO SINCE AIRCRAFT WAS IN PRODUCTION FLIGHT TEST OPERATION. M OR D REPORT WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE LA MIDO PER PART 21 REQUIREMENTS UPON COMPLETION OF THE ADDITIONAL TESTS.

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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