20170721015509A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Van Nuys, CA · July 21, 2017

Date: July 21, 2017 · 12:15 local
Place: Van Nuys, CA
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: ZAVJ
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N3254E
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR17LA159
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44 II
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5
People aboard: 4
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 4
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,700 total1,000 in this make and model116 in the last 90 days

N3254ERegistration cancelled May 1, 2020 · Robinson Helicopter R44 IIS/N 11702 · Built 2007 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 II Engine modelLycoming IO-540-AE1A5Reciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

N3254E was heading west over the 101 freeway at 500 feet AGL for landing at Van Nuys airport. The pilot noticed the engine tach at 110 percent. To correct for the engine over-speed indication, the pilot rolled the throttle down to ?match the needles?. The helicopter started to lose altitude so the pilot entered an auto rotation thinking he had a drive system failure. A flare was not initiated to arrest the descent rate because of the loss of airspeed. The helicopter made a hard landing on a street that paralleled the 101 freeway. The pilot stated he did not see the low rotor light on nor did he hear the low rotor horn. The pilot also stated he heard two muffled noises before the incident started.

As the FAA filed it

N3254E WAS HEADING WEST OVER THE 101 FREEWAY AT 500 FEET AGL FOR LANDING AT VAN NUYS AIRPORT. THE PILOT NOTICED THE ENGINE TACH AT 110 PERCENT. TO CORRECT FOR THE ENGINE OVER-SPEED INDICATION, THE PILOT ROLLED THE THROTTLE DOWN TO ?MATCH THE NEEDLES?. THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO LOSE ALTITUDE SO THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTO ROTATION THINKING HE HAD A DRIVE SYSTEM FAILURE. A FLARE WAS NOT INITIATED TO ARREST THE DESCENT RATE BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF AIRSPEED. THE HELICOPTER MADE A HARD LANDING ON A STREET THAT PARALLELED THE 101 FREEWAY. THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT SEE THE LOW ROTOR LIGHT ON NOR DID HE HEAR THE LOW ROTOR HORN. THE PILOT ALSO STATED HE HEARD TWO MUFFLED NOISES BEFORE THE INCIDENT STARTED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR17LA159Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportVan Nuys, CAAn improper repair of the right magneto's tachometer and governor signal wire, which failed during cruise flight and initiated a simultaneous malfunction of both the engine tachometer and governor control system, which resulted in erroneous and contradictory…Jul 21, 2017 · Substantial damage