20130606009759A

On June 6, 2013, a flight instructor for southern California helicopters flight school was repositioning one of their Robinson R44 ii helicopters (N915BW) from redlands CA. (Rei) to long beach (lgb) CA. Under the provisions of 14 code of regulations part 91 and under visual meteorological conditions. This helicopter was located in redlands CA. (Rei) for maintenance. The flight instructor departed (rei) with a passenger, landed at brackett airport (poc) to pick-up two additional passengers (personal friends), provide a tour of Los Angeles, and return the helicopter to the operators base of operation, long beach CA. (Lgb). The flight tour from brackett airport (poc), continued west to santa monica CA., inland to universal studios theme park, forrest lawn cemetery, the hollywood sign, and over griffith park observatory (east bound). At about 1700 feet MSL near the griffith park observatory the flight instructor observed the main rotor gearbox chip warning light illuminate. The flight instructor then started to look for potential landing areas. The first area the flight instructor attempted to land was an asphalt area that was occupied with numerous hikers. The flight instructor then observed an area to the left and proceeded to a trail on the southern slopes of griffith park area to a ridge line with a small clearing on a pinnacle at the end of the trail. The flight instructor then attempted to land at on this clearing because the helicopter started to make an unusual sound. The flight instructor then initiated a descent, while manuevering the helicopter onto a west heading, landed on the clearing, but before he could fully lower the collective the helicopter slipped. The flight instructor then raised the collective and the helicopter immediately spun to the left, rolled over towards the left, crashed on its side. The crash caused one main rotor blade to separate several feet from the main rotor hub, the other main rotor blade remained attached to the main rotor hub with mid-span bending damage, the tail boom was partially sheared at the bulkhead, and bent 45 degrees upward. The flight instructor and foward passenger suffered minor injuries and the two rear passengers were uninjured. The position of the helicopter after the crash was on its left side in dry grass and shrub, with its nose facing north. The main cabin was intact.

On July 15, 2013 the main rotor gearbox was torn down with the NTSB, FAA, and Robinson helicopters. There were no signifigant items found that were related to mechanical failures that caused the accident.

The investigation resulted in an eir being sent to the owner on July 16, 2013, for not having an effective standard airworthiness certificate because the helicopter was not registered by the owner. The helicopter was operated by the pilot listed in the accident with a standard airworthiness certificate and registration from mile high helicopters.

The investigation resulted in a second eir that was sent to the a&p/ia mechanic for not performing maintenance correctly, but was not a cause for the accident.