# NTSB LAX89FA165: Robinson R22 Beta, N26198, Stockton, CA, April 20, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 20, 1989, 05:08 local (12:08 UTC)
- Place: Stockton, CA
- Coordinates: 37.899234, -121.400337 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8992&lon=-121.4003&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26223
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89FA165
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26223/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89FA165

## Probable cause

POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE PILOT BY FLYING WHILE PHYSICALLY IMPAIRED FROM CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL & DRUGS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE.  THE LIGHT CONDITION (AT NIGHT) AND THE OBSTRUCTIONS (POWER LINES AND BUILDING) WERE CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (cause)
  - stolen aircraft/unauthorized use - performed, pilot in command
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - object - building(nonresidential) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER AN EVENING OF SOCIALIZING, THE PLT & PAX ELECTED TO GO ON A LOCAL FLT IN THE EARLY MORNING HRS BEFORE SUNRISE. THEY TOOK THE HELICOPTER (N26198) WITHOUT PROPER AUTHORIZATION & TOOK OFF DRG DARKNESS. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE HELICOPTER WAS OBSERVED FLYING AT LOW ALTITUDE IN AN ERRACTIC MANNER. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE, THEN HIT THE ROOF OF A BUILDING, CRASHED TO THE GROUND & BURNED. NO PREEXISTING AIRFRAME OR ENGINE MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DRG THE INVESTIGATION. TOXICOLOGY CHECKS OF BLOOD & URINE SAMPLES WERE MADE. THE CHECKS SHOWED THE PLT & PAX HAD BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVELS OF 0.17% & 0.11% (GRAMS%), RESPECTIVELY. A DRUG SCREEN OF FLUID FROM THE PLT SHOWED COCAINE/BENZOYLECGONINE LEVELS OF 0.19 MG/L. TOXICOLOGY CHECKS CONCERNING THE PAX WERE NEGATIVE FOR DRUGS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26198](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26198-1991-03-25), registration cancelled 1991-03-25, S/N 0724 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R22 BETA
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0724
- Airframe hours: 918
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David & Patricia Heath, doing business as Sunrise Helicopters
- Registered owner: Environmental Trans. Special
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 14, 1989, 22 hours before
- Departed: SCK, STOCKTON, CA
- Destination: SCK
- Airport: SCK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 107 total, 107 in this make and model, 46 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 340° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SCK, 6 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 19890420009449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890420009449A), Apr 20, 1989: Robsin R22BETA, Stockton, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Mechanic used helicopter without permission. Alcohol and cocaine in blood. Struck powerlines , crashed and burned.

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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