# Accident 20170721015509A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Van Nuys, CA, July 21, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 2017, 12:15 local time
- Place: Van Nuys, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: ZAVJ
- Location: 34.1603° N, 118.4617° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1603&lon=-118.4617&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3254E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3254E-2020-05-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (registry code 41899, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 4
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,700 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 116 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA159) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170721015509A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 WPR17LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA159), Jul 21, 2017: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N3254E), Van Nuys, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: An 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…

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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