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20220103021569A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Cessna 120 · Upland, CA · January 3, 2022

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
January 3, 2022 · 12:05 local
Place
Upland, CA
Airport
Cable Airport
Phase of flight
Landing: Touchdown
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N76646
NTSB investigation
NTSBWPR22LA072
Reported as
Cessna 120
Reported engine
Continental C85 series
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
2
N76646Registration cancelled Apr 13, 2024 · Cessna 120S/N 11086Airframe modelCessna 120Engine modelContinental C85 seriesReciprocating

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.

Huey helicopter hovering in air at approximately 30 ft (witness) causing rotor wash to disrupt landing of Cessna 120. Prior to touchdown, rotor wash created lift and aircraft rolled over and came to rest on its nose. Sheriff helicopter standard operating procedures is to hover much higher than required, causing undue rotor wash.

As the FAA filed it

HUEY HELICOPTER HOVERING IN AIR AT APPROXIMATELY 30 FT (WITNESS) CAUSING ROTOR WASH TO DISRUPT LANDING OF CESSNA 120. PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, ROTOR WASH CREATED LIFT AND AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER AND CAME TO REST ON ITS NOSE. SHERIFF HELICOPTER STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES IS TO HOVER MUCH HIGHER THAN REQUIRED, CAUSING UNDUE ROTOR WASH.

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 WPR22LA072Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportUpland, CAThe pilot’s loss of airplane control during a go-around as it encountered wake turbulence from a slow hover taxiing helicopter.Jan 3, 2022 · Substantial damage