# NTSB LAX92LA199: Robinson R-22B, N4081P, Sun Valley, CA, May 4, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 4, 1992, 13:25 local (20:25 UTC)
- Place: Sun Valley, CA
- Coordinates: 34.230773, -118.339332 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2308&lon=-118.3393&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27615
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA199
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27615/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA199

## Probable cause

1) FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING BY THE CFI AND HIS FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, AND 2) THE CFI'S MISJUDGEMENT OF THE LANDING FLARE TIMING DURING THE AUTO ROTATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT SAID THAT HE HAD FLOWN THE HELICOPTER ON THE FLIGHT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT SESSION FOR ABOUT 1.2 HOURS. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN THAT FLIGHT WITH FULL FUEL TANKS AND IT WAS NOT REFUELED AFTER LANDING. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT HE PERFORMED THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WITH THE STUDENT ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT AND VISUALLY LOOKED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK AND DETERMINED THAT ABOUT ONE HOUR AND FORTY MINUTES OF FUEL WAS ON BOARD. HE SAID THAT HE DID NOT USE A MEASURING DEVICE TO QUANTIFY THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK, BUT RATHER VISUALLY ESTIMATED THAT THE AMOUNT HE OBSERVED MATCHED THE FUEL GAGE. AFTER DEPARTURE FROM BURBANK THE FLIGHT PROCEEDED TO THE LOCAL PRACTICE AREA WHERE THE ONE HOUR DUAL STUDENT WAS GIVEN A LESSON ON PRIMARY FLIGHT MANEUVERS. THE FLIGHT WAS ON APPROACH TO THE BURBANK AIRPORT AFTER ONE HOUR AND TWELVE MINUTES WHEN THE LOW FUEL LEVEL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE INSTRUCTOR NOTED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER AND HE EXECUTED AN AUTO ROTATION TO A CITY PARK. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, BENDING THE TAIL BOOM. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE TANK AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4081P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4081P-1996-01-11), registration cancelled 1996-01-11, S/N 1786 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R-22B
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1786
- Airframe hours: 517
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Complete Aviation Services, doing business as Cas, USA
- Registered owner: Briles Wing & Helicopter, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1992, 17 hours before
- Departed: BUR, BURBANK, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial, flight instructor; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 560 total, 550 in this make and model, 490 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F

## 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 19920504013249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920504013249A), May 4, 1992: Robsin R22BETA, Burbank, CA, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel returning to airport after dual maneuvers. Landed hard in city park bending tailboom.

## Other investigations on N4081P (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX94LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA172), Mar 23, 1994: Robinson R-22B (N4081P), Simi Valley, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER HOVERING AUTOROTATION BY ALLOWING THE HELICOPTER TO DRIFT LATERALLY AND REARWARD, RESULTING IN THE HELICOPTER ROLLING OVER DURING TOUCHDOWN, AND THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S…

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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