# NTSB WPR09CA023: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N8356R, Temecula, CA, October 22, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 22, 2008, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Temecula, CA
- Coordinates: 33.448055, -117.02333 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4481&lon=-117.0233&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 24, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administrtion
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69346
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA023
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69346/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA023

## Probable cause

The certified flight instructor's failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm during a simulated approach to landing under variable wind, and high density altitude conditions.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md)
- [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md)
- [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md)
- [Approach: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The certified flight instructor (CFI) was showing the student how to make a landing approach to 2,500-foot mean sea level hilly terrain. The student had about 13 hours of total flying experience, and the CFI was handling the controls. According to the CFI, the first approach to the landing site was uneventful. During the second approach the low rotor rpm warning horn activated. The CFI reported that he tried to "milk collective and get it back," but he was not successful. The CFI opined that the wind direction may have changed, and he attempted to redirect the helicopter's course into the wind. The CFI was unable to regain rpm and stop the descent. The helicopter impacted the field and rolled over. The CFI reported that when the accident occurred, the helicopter was operating near its maximum certificated gross weight. The out of ground effect hover ceiling was about 3,000 feet, and the density altitude was about 3,200 feet.

## Factual narrative

During the accident flight, the certified flight instructor (CFI) was providing dual instruction to his student. The CFI was showing the student how to make a landing approach over 2,500-foot mean sea level hilly terrain. The student had about 13 hours of total flying experience, and the CFI was handling the controls. According to the CFI, the first approach to the landing site was uneventful. During the second approach the low rotor rpm warning horn activated. In the CFI's original statement to the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board, the CFI reported that he tried to "milk collective and get it back," but he was not successful. The CFI opined that the wind direction may have changed, and he attempted to redirect the helicopter's course into the wind. The CFI was unable to regain rpm and stop the descent. The helicopter impacted the field and rolled over. The CFI reported that when the accident occurred, the helicopter was operating near its maximum certificated gross weight. The out of ground effect hover ceiling was about 3,000 feet, and the density altitude was about 3,200 feet.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8356R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8356R), registered now, S/N 2729, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2729
- Airframe hours: 4276
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: USA Academy of Aviation
- Registered owner: Carter Richard K DBA
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 7, 2008
- Departed: F70, Murrieta, CA
- Destination: F70, Murrieta, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 57; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 10, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 10,024 total, 9,488 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: F70

## 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 20081022850219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081022850219A), Oct 22, 2008: Robsin R22BETA, Substantial damage. (-23) During a training flight landed hard in a remote area in foothills of palomar mountain.

## Other investigations on N8356R (1)

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 SEA04CA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04CA149), Jul 29, 2004: Robinson R-22 (N8356R), Boise, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to initiate a flare prior to contacting the ground while attempting to land the helicopter on a dark night. Factors include a distraction created by the flicker of a low rotor rpm…

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.

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