# NTSB LAX85LA155: Robinson R-22A, N85550, Santa Barbara, CA, February 25, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 25, 1985, 15:02 local (23:02 UTC)
- Place: Santa Barbara, CA
- Coordinates: 34.429107, -119.770561 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4291&lon=-119.7706&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24663
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA155
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24663/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA155

## Sequence of events

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

- Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause)
  - descent - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

STUDENT PLT STATED THAT WHILE FLYING THE LAST LEG OF A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT HE WAS FLYING ALONG THE COAST AT 50 TO 75 FEET, HE DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION TO LOOK AT THE A MAN ON THE BEACH AND WHEN HE LOOKED BACK AT THE INSTRUMENTS HE NOTICED THE HELICOPTER WAS DESCENDING. BEFORE THE DESCENT RATE COULD BE ARRESTED THE HELICOPTER CRASHED INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. THE PILOT DOES NOT SUSPECT HE LOST POWER AT THE TIME HE ATTEMPTED TO ARREST HIS DESCENT AND POST CRASH INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE PRECRASH MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N85550 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R-22A
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0445
- Airframe hours: 330
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2C 124 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Myron Rupprecht
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SBA, SANTA BARBARA, CA
- Destination: WHP, LOS ANGELES, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 37 total, 28 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBA, 10 nm away

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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