- Date
- September 14, 1999, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Azusa, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N8328QRobinson R-22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 13, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990914026739A
- Case key
- 47359
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's delay in recognizing the settling with power condition while performing a pinnacle approach, thus delaying his attempted go-around.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While performing a westbound pinnacle approach, the pilot encountered settling with power and decided to go around. During the go-around, the low rpm audio sounded. Still settling, the aircraft was below the pinnacle when the pilot initiated a right turn toward lower terrain. Unable to arrest the descent or clear the terrain, the helicopter landed hard. Surface winds at the closest reporting station were reported as being from 210 degrees at 5 knots.
Factual narrative
On September 14, 1999, at 1230 hours Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R-22, N8328Q, made a hard landing in hilly terrain near Azusa, California, while attempting a pinnacle approach and landing. The helicopter sustained substantial damage; however, the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The aircraft was operated by Universal Aviators Academy, Inc., under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and was rented by the pilot for the local area personal flight. The flight originated from the El Monte, California, airport at 1100. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that he was practicing a pinnacle approach to the west when he encountered settling with power during the last 50 feet of the approach and decided to go around. During the go-around, he heard the low rpm audio and turned off the carburetor heat. Still settling, he had now dropped below the pinnacle and initiated a turn to the right toward more favorable terrain. As the helicopter continued to lose altitude, he made a hard landing in a brushy area. The helicopter remained upright, coming to rest on both skids.
The operator estimated the elevation of the accident site to be about 2,500 feet msl. Surface winds at the El Monte airport were reported as being from 210 degrees at 5 knots. Surface winds at Bracket Field, La Verne, California, were reported as 270 degrees at 8 knots. The surface temperature at the accident site was estimated by the operator to have been about 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
A postaccident inspection by the operator revealed that the tailboom was buckled, the main rotor blades were damaged and the skids were spread.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8328Q
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2565
- Airframe hours
- 2,764
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-2BC, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Alex Khatib
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 31, 1999 · 55 hours before
- Departed
- EMT · El Monte, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 38
- Certificates
- Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 235 total · 110 in this make and model · 167 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- EMT, 11 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8328Q · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.