# Accident 20080614839729A: Robsin R44RAVENII, Topangna, CA, June 14, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 14, 2008, 19:14 local time
- Place: Topangna, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.1136° N, 118.6403° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1136&lon=-118.6403&mi=10
- Aircraft: N168AG, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N168AG-2015-04-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R44RAVENII
- Reported engine: LYC O540*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,028 total, 100 in this make and model, 65 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX08LA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA183) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080614839729A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 06/14/2008 WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT WITH 20 INCHES OF MANIFOLD, 80 TO 90 KNOTS AIRSPEED, AT 2500 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL.  THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANG WHICY WAS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED WITH THE HELICOPTER YAWING TO THE RIGHT 30 TO 50 DEGREES AND MAIN ROTOR RPM DECREASING.  THE PILOT INITIATED A 180 DEGREE TURNING AUTO ROTATION TO A TRAIL ON TOPANGA CANYON.  AT THE END OF THE AUTO ROTATION FLARE THE PILOT PULLED UP A LITTLE COLLECTIVE TO CUSHION, THE HELICOPTER YAWED TO THE RIGHT AT TOUCH DOWN.  THE LEFT LANDING GEAR SKID ASSEMBLY FOLDED  UP.  THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ON TO ITS RIGHT SIDE AND SLID DOWN THE SLOPE AND CAME TO REST 15 FEET FROM TOUCH DOWN POINT.  THE TAIL ROTOR ATTACHMENT FITTING CAME TO REST 75 FEET DOWN THE EMBANKMENT FROM THE HELICOPTER.  THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES WERE FOUND APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE NORTH OF THE CRASH SITE.  THE TAIL ROTOR HUB ASSEMBLY AND 90 DEGREE GEAR BOX IS MISSING, AND HAS NOT BEEN FOUND YET.

## 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 LAX08LA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA183), Jun 15, 2008: Robinson R44 II (N168AG), Topanga, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The in-flight separation of the tail rotor gear box for an undetermined reason. Contributing to the accident was the hilly terrain, which was unsuitable for a forced landing.

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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