- Date
- June 29, 1992, 12:42 local (19:42 UTC)
- Place
- Richmond, CA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N83858Robinson R22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 2, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations
- Yes
- FAA report
- 19920629022239A
- Case key
- 27438
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A divergence of the main rotor from its normal plane of rotation for an undetermined reason(s) which resulted in rotor contact to the tailboom.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The student had recorded her primary flight lesson on a tape recorder. After reaching the practice area, the CFI instructed the student to turn 180 deg left. The student complied and performed a shallow bank turn. Seconds later, while cruising at 2,200 ft, the CFI began talking. In midsentence an undetermined event occurred which interrupted his speech. A wind-like background noise started, and the student exclaimed 'help.' Radar data confirmed witness reports that the tail boom and m/r had separated in level flt. Exam of the wreckage indicated mast bumping had occurred, a m/r blade crushed the left side of the inboard tail cone, and the entire mast with attached m/r blades broke out of the top of the transmission. The outboard tail boom and rotor assembly have not been found. Evidence of a main rotor blade divergence was found. Spectrum analysis of the tape revealed no anomalies until the cfi's voice was terminated. Within 2 seconds the rotor speed appeared to significantly oscillate and abruptly end.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N83858
- Reported as
- Robinson R22
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0337
- Airframe hours
- 4,021
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Sierra Academy Of Aeronautics
- Registered owner
- Skyline Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 26, 1992 · 12 hours before
- Departed
- OAK · Oakland, CA
- Destination
- OAK
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 36
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 2,200 total · 2,000 in this make and model · 2,000 as pilot in command · 70 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- NGZ, 13 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.