# Accident 20160223007729A: Robinson Helicopter Co R66, Torrance, CA, February 23, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 23, 2016, 11:30 local time
- Place: Torrance, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8025° N, 118.3386° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8025&lon=-118.3386&mi=10
- Aircraft: N266RH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N266RH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R66 (registry code 7640130, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r66) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C300/A1 (registry code 54232, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c300-a1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C300/A1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,750 total, 200 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR16LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA075) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160223007729A

## Narrative

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

ROBINSON R66 HELICOPTER WAS BEING FLOWN BY ROBINSON TEST PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TO PUT SOME TIME ON SYSTEMS THAT ROBINSON WAS TESTING. AFTER LIFTOFF AND AT APPROX. 200 FEET THE PIC FELT A VIBRATION AND HEARD A THUD AND DECIDED TO INTIATE A AUTO ROTATE LANDING TO GET THE HELICOPTER ON THE GROUND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WHEN PERFORMING HIS LANDING ONTO A GRASSY AREA OF THE AIRPORT, THE HELICOPTER SLID IN THE GRASS AND HIT A SMALL BERM OF DIRT CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO TILT FORWARD AT ALMOST 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THE PIC THEN PULLED BACK ON THE COLLECTIVE STICK AND WHEN THE HELICOPTER CAME BACK DOWN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES MADE CONTACT WITH THE TAIL BOOM CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER.

## 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 WPR16LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA075), Feb 23, 2016: Robinson Helicopter R66 (N266RH), Torrance, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A vibration of the helicopter, which resulted in an autorotation to soft terrain and subsequent impact of the tail boom with the main rotor. The reason for the vibration could not be determined…

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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