# NTSB ANC22LA014: Bell 205A-1, N502HQ, El Cajon, CA, January 15, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 15, 2022, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: El Cajon, CA - Coordinates: 32.948616, -116.76365 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9486&lon=-116.7636&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104543 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104543/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104543 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA014 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that he was demonstrating an autorotation to the pilot receiving instruction as part of the company’s flight training program. The flight instructor entered the autorotation at an altitude of about 1,500 to 2,000 ft above ground level and reduced the engine’s power to flight idle during the descent. When the helicopter reached its power recovery altitude, the instructor attempted to increase the engine’s power; however, the engine did not respond. Subsequently, he attempted to recover engine power three times but was unsuccessful. The pilot committed to a touchdown autorotation. On touchdown, the helicopter rocked forward then aft on its skids, and the main rotor blades struck the tailboom, which sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the engine, governor, and fuel control revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. As a result, the reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined from the available evidence for this investigation. ## Factual narrative On January 15, 2022, about 1230 Pacific standard time, a Bell 205A-1 helicopter, N502HQ, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near El Cajon, California. The flight instructor and the pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor stated that he was demonstrating an autorotation to the pilot receiving instruction as part of the company’s flight training program. The flight instructor entered the autorotation at an altitude of about 1,500 to 2,000 ft above ground level and reduced the engine’s power to flight idle during the descent. When the helicopter reached its power recovery altitude, the instructor attempted to increase the engine’s power, but the engine did not respond. Subsequently, he attempted to recover engine power three times but was unable to do so. The pilot then committed to a touchdown autorotation. On touchdown, the helicopter rocked forward and then aft on its skids, and the main rotor blades struck the tailboom, which sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the engine, governor, and fuel control (which included a full engine run in accordance with the engine manufacturer’s overhaul manual, full vibration analysis with all parameters within limits. Functional test on the governor to check flow rates and reaction time moving from each parameter to another. Functional test of fuel regulator emergency solenoid, acceleration flow rates were checked, main components of the computer assembly were checked, and borescope inspection) revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N502HQ (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BELL 205A-1 - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 30172 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 24712.8 - Engines: Honeywell T-53-17A 1500 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Copter Lease LLC Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, January 10, 2022 - Departed: KSEE, El Cajon, CA - Destination: KSEE, El Cajon, CA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: N/A - Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private, commercial, foreign; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 11, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,200 total, 2,600 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 39; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2; last flight review January 14, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,525 total, 1 in this make and model, 3,401 as pilot in command, 124 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KSEE, 7 nm away - METAR: KSEE 150955Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 11/06 A3011 RMK AO2 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20220115001159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220115001159A), Jan 15, 2022: Bell 205A-1, El Cajon, CA, Substantial damage. On January 15, 2022 at approximately 14:30 local N502HQ (Bell 205) helicopter was conducting training for an initial 205 type model check out. The crew was… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104543. 9.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13237091&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20RT%20Huey_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Powerplants (item 2, PDF, 22 pages, 6.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13416798&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC22LA014%20Engine%20inspection-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13237101&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ANC22LA014-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15162766&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC22LA014%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.