# Accident 20090920021729A: Robsin R44RAVENII, Ramona, CA, September 20, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 20, 2009, 21:40 local time
- Place: Ramona, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.1339° N, 116.9197° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1339&lon=-116.9197&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4174P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4174P-2018-01-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (registry code 41899, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R44RAVENII
- Reported engine: LYC IO540AE1A5
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 180 total, 125 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09LA460](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA460) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090920021729A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2009, ABOUT 1440 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A ROBINSON R44 II, N4174P, COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING A FORCED LANDING NEAR VALLEY CENTER, CALIFORNIA.  THE PILOT WAS OPERATING THE HELICOPTER UNDER THE PROVISION OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91.  THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT WAS ACTING AS PILOT IN COMMAND AND THE COMMERCIAL PILOT PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.  THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE AND TAILBOOM.  THE LOCAL PERSONAL FLIGHT DEPARTED MONTGOMERY FIELD AIRPORT, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, ABOUT 1300.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED.  THE PILOTS REPORTED DEPARTING MONTGOMERY FIELD ABOUT 1 1/2 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.  THEY FLEW TO RAMONA AIRPORT, RAMONA, CALIFORNIA, WHERE THE PIRVATE PILOT PERFORMED TRAFFIC PATTERN PRACTICE.  THEY THEN DEPARTED TO A PRACTICE AREA NEAR VALLEY CENTER.  AFTER STOPPING FOR A BREAK, THE COMMERCIAL PILOT TOOK THE CONTROLS OF THE HELICOPTER WITH THE INTENTION OF PERFORMING A PINNACLE LANDING ON A LARGE ROCK.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA, SO HE CIRCLED THE INTENDED LANDING ZONE, AND MADE A SLOW DESCENT.  AS THEY APPROACHED THE LANDING ZONE AT AN ALTITUDE OF BETWEEN 50 AND 75 FEET AGL, THE PILOT HEARD A POPPING SOUND FOLLOWED BY "SILENCE."  THE NOSE OF THE HELICOPTER THEN DROPPED, AND THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ASSUMED THE ENGINE HAD FAILED.  HE THEN LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND PERFORMED AN AUTOROTATION.  DURING THE LANDING SEQUENCE THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE, AND THE TAILBOOM BECAME SEPARATED MIDSPAN.  FUELING RECORDS OBTAINED FROM CROWNAIR AVIATION, MONTGOMERY FIELD, INDICATED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS SERVICED WITH THE ADDITION OF 29.5 GALLONS OF AVIATION GASOLINE ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT.  THE CLOSEST AVIATION WEATHER OBSERVATION STATION WAS LOCATED AT ROMONA, WHICH WAS 6 MILES SOUTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE.  THE ELEVATION OF THE WEATHER OBSERVATION STATION WAS 1,395 FEET MSL.  AN AVIATION ROUTINE WEATHER REPORT WAS ISSUED AT 1453.  IT STATED: WINDS FROM 260 DEGREES AT 9 KNOTS; VISIBILITY 10 MILES; CLEAR SKIES; TEMPERATURE 32 DEGREES C; DEW POINT 08 DEGREES C.

## 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 WPR09LA460](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA460), Sep 20, 2009: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N4174P), Valley Center, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the engine’s camshaft due to fatigue of unknown origin.

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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