# NTSB LAX08CA185: Robinson R-22 Beta, N4000Y, Philomath, OR, June 17, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 16, 2008, 18:30 local (Jun 17, 2008, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Philomath, OR - Coordinates: 44.503887, -123.551391 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5039&lon=-123.5514&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68244 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA185 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68244/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA185 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm during a pinnacle approach and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action and inadequate supervision of the flight. Contributing to the accident was the downdraft weather condition. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 85 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that he was flying an instructional cross-country flight with a student. They stopped for fuel at an airport near sea level and were returning to their home base. When they departed, the wind was from 300 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 20 knots. They decided to do a pinnacle landing to a 4,060-foot mountain. As the student approached the peak for landing, a downdraft was encountered. The main rotor disk low rpm indicators activated, and the flight instructor took the controls and attempted to salvage the situation. The helicopter's landing skid impacted terrain, and the aircraft rolled twice down the mountain. The flight instructor and student exited with minor injuries. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that he was flying an instructional cross-country flight with a student. They stopped for fuel (elevation 250 feet) and were returning to their home base. When they departed, the wind was from 300 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 20 knots. They decided to do a pinnacle landing to a 4,060-foot mountain. As the student approached the peak for landing, a downdraft was encountered. The main rotor disk low rpm indicators activated, and the flight instructor took the controls and attempted to salvage the situation. The helicopter's landing skid impacted terrain, and the aircraft rolled twice down the mountain. The flight instructor and student exited with minor injuries. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4000Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4000Y-2012-12-05), registration cancelled 2012-12-05, S/N 1367, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R-22 Beta - 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: 1367 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hillsboro Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CVO, Corvallis, OR - Destination: TTD, Troutdale, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 22; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2; flight hours: 1,230 total, 1,215 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: minor; private; medical: class 2; flight hours: 115 total, 115 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 16 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: CVO ## 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 20080616838359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080616838359A), Jun 16, 2008: Robsin R22, Philomath, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) During the approach to a 4097' MSL mountain top landing area, the aircraft encountered a strong downdraft lost rotor RPM and impacted short of 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. --- 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.