# NTSB LAX96LA326: Bell 47-G5, N57RA, Riverside, CA, August 30, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 29, 1996, 22:00 local (Aug 30, 1996, 05:00 UTC) - Place: Riverside, CA - Coordinates: 33.900089, -117.399024 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9001&lon=-117.3990&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 16, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29553 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA326 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29553/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA326 ## Probable cause The pilot's inaccurate perception of altitude which resulted in an improper flare and subsequent hard landing, and non use of the landing light. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - autorotation - intentional, pilot in command - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - lack of recent experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - adequate rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command - equipment,other - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was regaining night flying proficiency and was practicing a night autorotation landing from 3,000 feet without use of the aircraft's landing light. There was a full moon and the ground was visible. During the autorotation flare, he misjudged the aircraft's height above the surface, flared too high, and the helicopter dropped the last 4 or 5 feet. The aircraft landed hard with little energy in the main rotor and the rotor severed the tail boom. The pilot reported that he had no other night flying time in the previous 90 days, and that there were no mechanical malfunctions involved. He also said that the landing light was operational had he chosen to use it. ## Factual narrative On August 29, 1996, at 2200 hours Pacific daylight time, a Bell 47-G5, N57RA, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Riverside Municipal Airport, Riverside, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area personal flight and the commercial pilot was not injured. The pilot reported that he was regaining night flying proficiency and was practicing a night autorotation landing from 3,000 feet without use of the aircraft's landing light. There was a full moon and the ground was visible. During the autorotation flare, he misjudged the aircraft's height above the surface, flared too high, and the helicopter dropped the last 4 or 5 feet. The aircraft landed hard with little energy in the main rotor and the rotor severed the tail boom. The pilot reported that he had no other night flying time in the previous 90 days, and that there were no mechanical malfunctions involved. He also said that the landing light was operational had he chosen to use it. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N57RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57RA-2013-07-02), registration cancelled 2013-07-02, S/N 25006, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47-G5 - Registry model: [Bell 47G-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5) (registry code 1181032) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 25006 - Airframe hours: 5013 - Engines: Lycoming VO-435-B1A 265 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Orco Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 26, 1996, 45 hours before - Departed: RAL - Airport: RAL, Riverside Municipal, runway 34, 2,850 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; commercial; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 600 in this make and model, 1,300 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Visibility: 7 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 19960829025929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960829025929A), Aug 29, 1996: Bell 47G5, Riverside, CA, Substantial damage. Practice night autorotation ans landing light. Misjudged height. Flared too high. Dropped. Rotor severed tailboom. 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.