# Accident 20070914023509A: Robsin R22BETA, Irwindale, CA, September 14, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 14, 2007
- Place: Irwindale, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Run Land (Autorotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.0861° N, 118.0347° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0861&lon=-118.0347&mi=10
- Aircraft: N877HF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N877HF-2017-07-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22BETA
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 500 total, 400 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX07LA274](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07LA274) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070914023509A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT STATED TO THE REPORTING INSPECTOR THAT HE WAS ON A DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT WITH A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT PILOT FLYING STRAIGHT AND LEVEL AT 1700 FT. JUST EAST OF EL MONTE AIRPORT (EMT). HE HEARD A LOUD REPORT AND IMMEDIATELY SAW THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATE. IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE DROPPED TO PARTIAL POWER (APPROXIMATELY 60%) AND THERE WAS A SPLIT BETWEEN ROTOR RPM AND ENGINE RPM. THE ENGINE FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS SURGING DURING HIS AUTOROTATION. HE MADE AN APPROACH TO A FIELD ADJACENT TO THE SANTA FE DAM. HE THEN STATES, "AS WE WERE TOUCHING DOWN I CAME IN A LITTLE TOO FAST AND THE LEFT SKID DUG INTO A HIGH SPOT IN THE TERRAIN THREE TIMES, ONTO THIRD IMPACT OF THE SKID THE AIRCRAFT SPUN AROUND ABOUT 180 DEGREES. THE HARD LANDING ROLLED US ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT AS IT SPUN AROUND." THE REPORTING INSPECTOR FOUND THE AIRCRAFT LAYING ON ITS RIGHT SIDE ON A HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY 270 DEGREES. IT APPEARS THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS INITIALLY TRAVELING ON A HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES AT THE TIME OF THE IMPACT. NEITHER OCCUPANT WAS INJURED DURING THIS EVENT. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 LAX07LA274](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07LA274), Sep 14, 2007: Robinson R22 Beta (N877HF), El Monte, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: a failure of the main rotor drive system V-belts due to damage sustained when the alternator drive belt failed and pieces of that belt got between the main drive belts and their associated pulleys. A…

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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