# Accident 20230428006469A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Van Nuys, CA, April 28, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 28, 2023, 15:26 local time
- Place: Van Nuys, CA
- Airport: Van Nuys
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2098° N, 118.4900° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2098&lon=-118.4900&mi=10
- Aircraft: N549TS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N549TS) (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 HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,112 total, 269 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA170) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230428006469A

## Narrative

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

WITH THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^STUDENT MANIPULATING THE CONTROLS AND THE PIC/CFI OBSERVING THROUGHOUT.  AFTER JUST LANDING ON THE RUNWAY 34 RUN-UP AREA.  THE STUDENT INITIATED A PICKUP TO HOVER, TO REPOSITION AND LAND BACK TO THE NORMAL PARKING SPACE ABOUT 200 FEET AWAY.

AS THE STUDENT STARTED TO PICK THE HELICOPTER BACK UP, IT STARTED TO ROLL, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RECOVER THE STUDENT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, ALLOWING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, AND TAIL ROTOR BLADES TO IMPACT THE GROUND WHILE THE AIRCRAFT ALSO ROTATED. THE PIC/CFI DID NOT HAVE TIME TO ASSEST WITH RECOVERY. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST, THE AIRCRAFT WAS STILL RIGHT SIDE UP, BUT THE LEFT SKID WAS COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRCRAFT HAD SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, TAIL ROTOR, FUSELAGE, AND SKIDS.

## 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 WPR23LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA170), Apr 28, 2023: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N549TS), Van Nuys, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control of the helicopter, which resulted in a hard landing.

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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