# Accident 20161229019539A: Robinson R44 II, Mt Baldy, CA, December 29, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 29, 2016, 11:50 local time
- Place: Mt Baldy, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2878° N, 117.6514° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2878&lon=-117.6514&mi=10
- Aircraft: N324RS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N324RS-2017-12-20) (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: ROBINSON R44 II
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 480 total, 300 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA043) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161229019539A

## Narrative

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

N324RS APPROACHED MT BALDY AT ELEVATION 9844 FEET,AND 4 PAX WEATHER CLEAR NO WIND,  APPROACHED FROM WEST END OF MT BALDY, GOT A LOW ROTOR WARNING LIGHT, LOWERED COLLECTIVE AND ROLLED THROTTLE,  N342RS RAPIDLY STARTED TO DESCEND, PILOT APPLIED FULL LEFT RUDDER AND CRASH LANDED ON MT. BALDY.

## 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 WPR17LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA043), Dec 29, 2016: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N324RS), Mt. Baldy, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain main rotor speed during a low orbiting approach over a confined mountainous area. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to attempt to land in an area…

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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