# NTSB LAX98LA274: Robinson R22B, N2335Q, Ramona, CA, August 21, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 21, 1998, 13:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Ramona, CA - Coordinates: 33.070899, -116.829917 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0709&lon=-116.8299&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 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43824 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA274 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43824/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA274 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain rotor rpm while practicing autorotations and subsequent hard landing and roll over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The pilot initiated a practice 180-degree autorotation and the rotor rpm decreased to 73 percent. The pilot waited for the engine to bring back the rotor rpm but landed hard. The helicopter rolled onto its left side and the main rotor blades severed the tail boom. The pilot did not report experiencing any mechanical malfunction with the aircraft or powerplant prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 21, 1998, at 1315 hours Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R22B, N2335Q, experienced a hard landing at the Ramona, California, airport. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot and student pilot, the sole occupants, were not injured. The flight originated at the Carlsbad, California, airport at 1145, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the San Diego Flight Standards District Office interviewed the two pilots on August 24. The student pilot reported that he was in the helicopter solely as a passenger with the commercial pilot, who was preparing for his flight instructor check ride the following day. The commercial pilot performed several maneuvers to the taxiway parallel to runway 27. The last maneuver was a 180-degree autorotation. The pilot reported that he initiated the maneuver abeam his intended touchdown zone with the governor in the "on" position. The helicopter nosed over and the rotor rpm began to decrease. The pilot attempted to recover to a level flight attitude, but the rotor rpm decreased to 73 percent. He reported that he "waited for [the] engine to help me, to bring back my rotor rpm." The helicopter landed hard and rolled onto its left side and the main rotor blades severed the tail boom. The FAA inspector examined the helicopter and established flight control continuity. He stated that the pilots did not report experiencing any problems with the aircraft or powerplant prior to the accident. The owner of the flight school reported that the pilot had signed an agreement that stated he would not perform autorotations without an instructor onboard except in an actual emergency. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2335Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2335Q-1998-10-26), registration cancelled 1998-10-26, S/N 2154 (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) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2154 - Airframe hours: 3556 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2BC 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Civic Helicopters, doing business as Flight Trails Helicopters - Registered owner: Flight Trails Helicopters - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 29, 1998, 85 hours before - Departed: CRQ, CARLSBAD, CA - Destination: RNM - Airport: RNM, Ramona Ca, runway 27, 4,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; commercial, flight instructor; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 207 total, 152 in this make and model, 154 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 15 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 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 19980821021519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980821021519A), Aug 21, 1998: Robsin R22BETA, Ramona, CA, Substantial damage. Helicopter landed hard, the tail boom broke off, and the rotor sustained damage. (-23) PIC erik giletto, accompanied by student pilot gilad horowitz, had been… ## Other investigations on N2335Q (2) 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 LAX93LA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA101), Jan 23, 1993: Robinson R22B (N2335Q), Palomar Mtn, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE STUDENT PILOT'S INITIAL FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM DURING THE GO AROUND AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGHT. - [NTSB LAX92LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA315), Jul 25, 1992: Robinson R-22B (N2335Q), Carlsbad, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM DURING A SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE, AND THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT. 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.