# Accident 20150303003539A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, San Bernardino, CA, March 3, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 3, 2015, 11:40 local time
- Place: San Bernardino, CA
- Airport: San Bernardino International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.0953° N, 117.2350° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0953&lon=-117.2350&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4003S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4003S-2018-03-23) (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: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 300 total, 25 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR15CA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA119) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150303003539A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 3, 2015, ABOUT 10:30 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A ROBINSON R-22 BETA, N4003S, COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING AN VFR APPROACH  TO LANDING AT THE SAN BERNARDINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA DURING A SOLO STUDENT CROSS FLIGHT.  THE STUDENT PILOT WAS OPERATING THE AIRPLANE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91. THE STUDENT PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES (HEAD LACERATION); THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FROM IMPACT FORCES. THE PERSONAL / SOLO FLIGHT DEPARTED RIVERSIDE AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY10:30 HOURS FOR A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM RIVERSIDE AIRPORT (RAL) TO FRENCH VALLEY AIRPORT (F70), TO SAN BERNARDINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (SBD), RETURNING TO RIVERSIDE AIRPORT (RAL), RIVERSIDE CALIFORNIA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED.

THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD FLOWN FROM RIVERSIDE AIRPORT (RAL) TO FRENCH VALLEY (F70) AND COMPLETED APPROXIMATELY 6 TAKE-OFFS AND LANDINGS  AT FRENCH VALLEY AIRPORT.  THE STUDENT PILOT THEN STATED HE FLEW TO SAN BERNARDINO AIRPORT FROM FRENCH VALLEY AIRPORT.  THE ATIS INFORMATION X-RAY WAS IN EFFECT.  THE WINDS WERE CALM.  THE STUDENT PILOT OVERSHOT THE INTENDED LAND ZONE (APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET), WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON TAXIWAY FOXTROT SOUTH OF RUNWAY 6 AT SAN BERNARDINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (SBD).  THE STUDENT PILOT STATED HE OVERSHOT THE INTENDED LANDING ZONE AND THE AIRCRAFT MADE CONTACT WITH THE SOFT GROUND, THE AIRCRAFT MADE A RAPID TURN AND CAME TO REST FACING IN A NORTHWESTERLY DIRECTION.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN THE HELICOPTER MADE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND.  THE STUDENT PILOT STATED HE WAS NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 WPR15CA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA119), Mar 3, 2015: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N4003S), San Bernardino, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the ground, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent dynamic rollover.

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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