# NTSB LAX05LA049: Robinson R22B, N145RJ, Los Angeles, CA, December 11, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 11, 2004, 10:13 local (18:13 UTC) - Place: Los Angeles, CA - Coordinates: 34.050277, -118.25 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0503&lon=-118.2500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Lycoming, Robinson Helicopter Company, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 60710 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60710/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA049 ## Probable cause The activation of the low main rotor rpm warning system for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - misc rotorcraft,main rotor rpm warning system - activated - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - other ## Analysis While flying over downtown Los Angeles, about 1,200 feet mean sea level, the pilot observed the low rotor warning light illuminate followed by the low rotor warning horn activating. He entered an autorotation and attempted to land on a helipad on top of a 56-story office building. During the landing phase the helicopter overshot the landing pad and the main rotor blades came in contact with the window washing equipment. The helicopter missed the helipad and came to rest below the helipad on the roof. Examination of the aircraft systems and the engine failed to disclose any abnormality. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 11, 2004, at 1013 Pacific standard time, a Robinson R22B, N145RJ, made a hard landing and collided with obstacles while attempting to execute an emergency autorotation onto the rooftop heliport on the Wells Fargo Bank Building, downtown Los Angeles, California. Rainbow Air Academy, Inc., was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and the one passenger were not injured; the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The personal local flight departed Long Beach, California, about 0915. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 34 degrees 3.182 minutes north latitude and 118 degrees 15.099 minutes west longitude. The renter pilot reported that while flying over downtown Los Angeles, about 1,200 feet mean sea level (msl), he observed the low rotor speed warning light illuminate followed by the low rotor speed warning horn activating. He entered an autorotation and attempted to land on top of the Wells Fargo Bank Building, which is a 56-story office building. During the landing phase the helicopter overshot the landing pad, and the main rotor blades came in contact with window washing equipment. The helicopter missed the helipad, and came to rest below the helipad on the roof. The helicopter sustained damage to the main rotor blades and tail boom. The helicopter was recovered from the rooftop and transported to storage for further examination. Investigators from the National Transporatio Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, Robinson Helicopter Company, and Textron Lycoming were parties to the investigation. The wreckage was examined at Robinson Helicopter Company, Torrance, California, on January 6, 2005. Investigators established control continuity for the throttle and mixture controls. Both controls moved freely from stop to stop. The bottom spark plugs were removed from each cylinder. The spark plug electrodes were gray in color, which corresponded to normal operation according to the Champion Aviation Check-A-Plug AV-27 Chart. Fuel samples were taken from the main and auxiliary fuel tanks and the gascolator. All three samples were blue in color with no water present. The vent lines were disconnected from the fuel tanks, which appeared to be a result of contact with push/pull tubes at ground impact. The vent lines were clear. Without using any extraneous or substitute equipment, the engine was started, warmed up and run at 104 percent for approximately 10 minutes with no anomalies. The governor was switched on, and it functioned properly. A magneto ground check was performed with the following results: When switched to the "L" position, the rpm dropped (approximately 15 percent). When switched to the "R" position, there was no rpm drop. When switched to the "OFF" position, the rpm dropped, but the engine continued to run. Examination of the wires on the left magneto revealed the "P" lead was attached to the "Retard" terminal, and the "Retard" lead was attached to the "Print" terminal. The leads were removed and reinstalled properly. The engine was again run, and a magneto ground check was performed. Both magnetos responded properly. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The Safety Board investigator released the wreckage to the owner's representative. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N145RJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N145RJ-2005-03-03), registration cancelled 2005-03-03, S/N 1149, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22B - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1149 - Airframe hours: 8470 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rainbow Air Academy Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 1, 2004, 58 hours before - Departed: LGB, LONG BEACH, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 602 total, 101 in this make and model, 424 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: LAX, 15 nm away ## 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 20041211032269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041211032269A), Dec 11, 2004: Robsin R22BETA, Los Angeles, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] left long beach airport with one passenger, on a sightseeing flight to downtown Los Angeles. VFR conditions prevailed.… 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.