- Date
- January 8, 2008, 13:05 local (21:05 UTC)
- Place
- Riverside, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8280JRobinson R-22
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 28, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Adminsitration
- FAA report
- 20080108009749A
- Case key
- 67380
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 misjudged landing flare and improper use of the collective control.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that while making an approach to a hover about 15 feet above ground level (agl), he applied power and collective to stop the decent rate and the helicopter began to yaw to the right. Despite the pilot adding left anti-torque pedal and increasing power, the helicopter continued to yaw to the right and ascended 50 to 75 feet. The pilot stated he lowered the collective and reduced power until the helicopter descended through about 25 feet agl, and then he raised the collective for landing. Subsequently, the helicopter landed hard within sandy terrain on the shoreline of a lake. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the tail boom and firewall sustained substantial damage. No mechanical anomalies were noted during the examination.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported while making an approach to a hover about 15 feet above ground level (agl), he applied power to stop the decent rate and the helicopter began to yaw to the right. Despite the pilot adding left anti-torque pedal and increasing power, the helicopter continued to yaw to the right and ascended 50-75 feet. The pilot stated he lowered the collective and reduced power until the helicopter descended through about 25 feet agl, and then he raised the collective for landing. Subsequently, the helicopter landed hard within sandy terrain on the shoreline of a lake. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the tail boom and firewall sustained substantial damage. No mechanical anomalies were noted during the examination.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8280J
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0892
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- California Aviation Services Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- KRAL · Riverside, 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
- 22
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Flight hours
- 280 total · 280 in this make and model · 365 as pilot in command · 163 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 149 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- KRAL, 7 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.