# Accident 20041211032269A: Robsin R22BETA, Los Angeles, CA, December 11, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 11, 2004, 09:20 local time
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.0503° N, 118.2500° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0503&lon=-118.2500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N145RJ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N145RJ-2005-03-03) (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
- Reported engine: LYC O320*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 629 total, 99 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX05LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA049) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041211032269A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMI^ LEFT LONG BEACH AIRPORT WITH ONE PASSENGER, ON A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT TO DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED. WHILE FLYING OVER THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE CITY AT APPROXIMATELY 1200 FEET MSL, THE LOW ROTOR RPM WARNING LIGHT AND HORN ACTIVATED. THE PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND ENTERED AUTOROTATION ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A HELIPAD ON TOP OF THE 56 STORY WELLS FARGO BUILDING. DURING LANDING, THE HELICOPTER OVERSHOT THE HELIPAD AND CONTACTED WINDOWN WASHING EQUIPMENT ON THE NORTH CORNER OF THE BUILDING. ROTORBLADES STRUCK THE EQUIPMENT CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. STILL BEING SEVERAL FEET ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE BUILDING, THE PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO IMPACT THE SURFACE. THE RESULTANT HARD LANDING NEARLY SEVERED THE TAILBOOM AT THE ATTACH POINTS. DAMAGE TO THE ROTORBLADES AND TAILBOOM CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO RECEIVE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. AFTER LANDING, THE PASSENGER PULLED THE MIXTURE CONTROL TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND BOTH OCCUPANTS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES TO EITHER THE PILOT OR PASSENGER.

## 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 LAX05LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA049), Dec 11, 2004: Robinson R22B (N145RJ), Los Angeles, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The activation of the low main rotor rpm warning system for undetermined reasons.

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.