- Date
- April 4, 1992, 11:20 local (18:20 UTC)
- Place
- Carlsbad, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4071JRobinson R-22B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 27594
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
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, his failure to arrest the descent rate in a timely fashion, and the selection of unsuitable terrain on which to practice autorotations.
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
In his written statement, the safety pilot reported that the pilot entered a simulated forced landing with the intention of performing a power recovery. He said the pilot started a 'flare' at about 50 feet above the ground. He further reported that at about 20 feet above the ground, a gust of wind caused the helicopter's descent to accelerate. The safety pilot then joined the pilot in trying to regain control. He said the rate of descent was reduced. The safety pilot reported that the aircraft continued its descent with one skid on a 'one foot rock built up area.' The safety pilot said '...the aircraft quickly (and without any way to recover) tipped over on its side (left).' The safety pilot said that he thought they (he and the other pilot) had recovered at '1-2 foot of height' but the raised rock area caught the skid causing the aircraft to rollover.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4071J
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1443
- Airframe hours
- 1,604
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Civic Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Civic Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 28, 1992 · 15 hours before
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 24
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 158 total · 94 in this make and model · 108 as pilot in command · 70 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None