# NTSB LAX95LA191: Robinson R-22, N8363Q, Redding, CA, May 21, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 21, 1995, 14:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: Redding, CA - Coordinates: 40.599376, -122.460411 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5994&lon=-122.4604&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report August 31, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29098 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA191 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29098/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA191 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper use of the flight controls. The downward-sloping terrain and the intermittent gusty wind conditions were factors in this accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, hover - in ground effect - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - downhill (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS LANDING THE HELICOPTER IN AN OPEN AREA ON THE NORTH SIDE OF A LAKE. THE LANDING AREA TERRAIN SLOPED DOWNWARD WITH TREES TO THE NORTH. ON THE INITIAL TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT FELT THE LEFT SKID TOUCH UNEVEN TERRAIN. THE PILOT RAISED THE HELICOPTER TO A 2-FOOT HOVER. MOMENTS LATER, A GUST OF WIND STRUCK THE HELICOPTER. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO ROLL TO THE LEFT AND THE PILOT APPLIED COLLECTIVE AND CYCLIC INPUTS. THE HELICOPTER RESPONDED TO THE CONTROL INPUTS AND ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND TRAVELED REARWARD UNTIL IT HIT A TREE. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE HELICOPTER DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. GROUND WITNESSES CONFIRMED THE PILOT'S STATEMENT AND ALSO SAID THAT GUSTY WINDS EXISTED IN THE LANDING AREA, BUT NOT ON THE LAKE. ## Factual narrative On May 21, 1995, at 1420 hours Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R-22 helicopter, N8363Q, collided with a tree near Greens Creek Campsite about 25 miles north of Redding, California. The pilot was completing a local visual flight rules personal flight. The helicopter, registered to and operated by a private individual, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot and his passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from a houseboat at Shasta Lake at 1415 hours. National Transportation Safety Board investigators interviewed the pilot via a telephone on May 21, 1995. The pilot said that he departed the open area and intended to land at the Greens Creek Campsite. He said that the landing area sloped downward and that he landed the helicopter at the campsite, but did not fully lower the collective. He felt uncomfortable with the landing and then raised the helicopter to a hover. While the helicopter was hovering, a gust of wind blew the helicopter into the trees. The pilot said the helicopter did not experience any preimpact malfunctions or failures. The pilot repeated his telephone statement in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2. He added, however, that when the helicopter left skid touched down, the left skid was on an uneven surface and he felt the helicopter settling back. He aborted the landing and raised the helicopter to about a 2-foot hover and then the helicopter rolled to the left in a tail-up attitude. It appeared that the helicopter was " . . . hit on the right side by a strong gust of wind . . . ." The pilot added the appropriate cyclic and collective controls input and the helicopter responded by " . . . rolling back to the right . . . ." The helicopter tail rotor then struck the trees. Ground witnesses confirmed the pilot's statement with respect to the aborted landing and collision with the trees. The witnesses said that calm wind conditions existed on the lake with intermittent gusty wind conditions at the accident site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8363Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8363Q-2017-07-06), registration cancelled 2017-07-06, S/N 0309, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON R-22 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (registry code 7640102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0309 - Airframe hours: 3629 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: North Valley Helicopters - Registered owner: David E. Everson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 1995, 21 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 461 total, 137 in this make and model, 461 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots, gusting 9 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19950521012269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950521012269A), May 21, 1995: Robsin R22BETA, Redding, CA, Substantial damage. During hover for better landing site wind gust drifted helicopter. Tail rotor struck trees. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.