# NTSB LAX98LA160: Robinson R22B, N2332G, San Jose, CA, May 16, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 16, 1998, 10:48 local (17:48 UTC) - Place: San Jose, CA - Coordinates: 37.329467, -121.769447 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3295&lon=-121.7694&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 30086 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30086/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA160 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - aborted - aborted landing - attempted, dual student - rotor rpm - low, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Roll over, landing ## Analysis The flight instructor and the commercial rated pilot were practicing slope landings. The student stated that as she set the helicopter down it didn't feel right, and she attempted to abort the landing by pulling in full collective. The helicopter became airborne and the main rotor rpm decreased to the point where the low rotor rpm horn and light were activated. The flight instructor reported that he took the controls and recovered the rotor rpm to 92 percent. He attempted to cushion the landing but the helicopter landed hard on the forward portion of the left skid. The left skid tip impacted the berm and the helicopter rolled onto its left side. There was no report of prior mechanical malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On May 16, 1998, at 1048 hours Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R22B, N2332G, impacted the terrain and rolled over at the Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose, California. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the certified flight instructor and dual student were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local instructional flight originated at 1010. The certified flight instructor reported that he and the commercial rated pilot were working on traffic patterns and had made several practice landings to a 10-degree slope. At the time of the accident, the student was on the controls. She reported that as she set the helicopter down, "it didn't feel right," and she attempted to abort the landing by pulling in full collective and applying aft cyclic. The helicopter became airborne and the main rotor rpm decreased to the point where the low rotor rpm horn and light were activated. The flight instructor reported that he lowered the collective, rolled on the throttle, and neutralized the pedals. The instructor reported that the rotor rpm was recovered to approximately 92 percent. He then applied aft cyclic and lifted the collective to cushion the landing. The helicopter landed hard on the forward portion of the left skid. The skid tip impacted the berm and the helicopter rolled onto its left side. The pilot reported no prior mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2332G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2332G-2018-01-11), registration cancelled 2018-01-11, S/N 0521, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22B - 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: 0521 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: California In Nice, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: RHV - Airport: RHV, Reid-Hillview ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total, 285 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KRH ## 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 19980516009599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980516009599A), May 16, 1998: Robsin R22BETA, San Jose, CA, Substantial damage. Practice slope landing. Student pulled full collective on landing. Became airborne. Rotor decay. Impacted. Rolled. (.4)the flight instructor and the commercial… 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.