# NTSB LAX96LA224: Robinson R22 Beta, N40009, Santa Clarita, CA, June 7, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 7, 1996, 16:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Santa Clarita, CA - Location: 34.3917° N, 118.5426° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Santa Clarita, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3917&lon=-118.5426&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29466 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29466/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA224 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to abandon the pinnacle approach after encountering an excessive rate of descent. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - terrain condition - pinnacle - weather condition - downdraft - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment - Roll over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot was making a pinnacle approach to the leeward side of a ridge. As he approached his touchdown point his airspeed was slowing to just above effective translational lift (ETL) when the aircraft was caught in a downdraft. He attempted to maneuver the aircraft but was unable to stop his decent or redirect his forward movement. The aircraft undershot the approach and struck the side of the ridge. The pilot said he had performed a high reconnaissance orbit and had monitored ATIS surface winds. ## Factual narrative On June 7, 1996, about 1615 hours Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta, N40009, collided with the terrain while on approach to an off-airport landing site in Santa Clarita, California. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the certificated private helicopter pilot and his passenger received minor injuries. The aircraft was being operated by Group III Aviation, Van Nuys, California, and had been rented by the pilot for a personal flight when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Van Nuys about 1500 on the afternoon of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that he was making a pinnacle approach to the leeward side of a ridge in Pico Canyon. He was about 100 feet from touchdown with his airspeed slowing to 30 knots when the aircraft was caught in a downdraft that caused him to undershoot the approach. He attempted to maneuver the aircraft, but was unable to prevent the aircraft from striking the side of the ridge. After impact the aircraft rolled down the ridge and came to rest on its side. Before the approach, the pilot said he had performed a high reconnaissance orbit at 200 feet above the pinnacle and had monitored surface winds on Van Nuys ATIS frequency. He reported no mechanical problems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N40009](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40009-2013-09-26), registration cancelled 2013-09-26, S/N 1376, built 1990 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1376 - Airframe hours: 4114 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Peter Lowery, doing business as Group 3 Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Dragonfly Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 31, 1996, 12 hours before - Departed: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 668 total, 173 in this make and model, 415 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 10 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: VNY ## 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 19960607013089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960607013089A), Jun 7, 1996: Robsin R22BETA, Santa Clarita, CA, Substantial damage. Practice pinnacle landing lee side off ridge. Caught in downdraft. Undershot. Rotors hit ridge. Rolled down hill. 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.