# NTSB LAX07CA273: Robinson R22 Beta II, N132SH, Oakland, CA, September 14, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 14, 2007, 11:53 local (18:53 UTC)
- Place: Oakland, CA
- Coordinates: 37.704723, -122.220558
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7047&lon=-122.2206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66669
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA273
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66669/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA273

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the crosswind conditions and to maintain directional control.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, hover - in ground effect
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, dual student (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, dual student (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

The student pilot was performing a supervised solo traffic pattern after completing three successful patterns with a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) on runway 33.  The three practice patterns with the CFI had been done to determine wind effects and aptitude of the student on this day.  As the student pilot completed his first solo traffic pattern and was coming into a hover he encountered a left crosswind from 250 degrees at 10 knots, and the helicopter yawed left and spun 1 1/4 turns.  The helicopter then descended to a hard landing.  The student and the instructor said there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.

## Factual narrative

On September 14, 2007, about 1153 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta II, N132SH, landed hard at Metropolitan Oakland International Airport, Oakland, California.  Silver State Helicopters was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  The student pilot was not injured; the helicopter sustained substantial damage.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The student pilot was performing a supervised solo traffic pattern after completing three successful patterns with a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) on runway 33.  The three practice patterns with the CFI had been done to determine wind effects and aptitude of the student on this day.  As the student pilot completed his first traffic pattern and was coming into a hover he encountered a left crosswind from 250 degrees at 10 knots, and the helicopter yawed left and spun 1 1/4 turns. The helicopter then descended to a hard landing.

The student and the instructor said there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N132SH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N132SH-2008-10-08), registration cancelled 2008-10-08, S/N 4121, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Robinson R22 Beta II
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-J2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-j2a) (registry code 42314, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 4121
- Airframe hours: 814
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Silver State Helicopters, doing business as Silver State Helicopters
- Registered owner: Silver State Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 2007, 14 hours before
- Departed: KOAK, Oakland, CA
- Destination: KOAK, Oakland, CA
- Airport: OAK, Metropolitan Oakland Intl, runway 33, 3,372 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 45; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2; seat: right; flight hours: 64 total, 64 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: OAK

## 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 20070914018889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070914018889A), Sep 14, 2007: Robsin R22BETA, Oakland, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Coming to a hover from a normal approach, student pilot allowed the helicopter to yaw left approximately 1 1/4 turns. Student pilot lowered the…

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.

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