- Date
- April 6, 2010, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Temecula, CA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N688SSRobinson R44
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 1, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20100406031059A
- Case key
- 75681
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 failure to maintain control of the helicopter during takeoff.
Findings · 5
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 stated that he and two passengers traveled to a friend's private residence in the accident helicopter and landed on a hill with a slope. They were at the residence for a few hours before they got back in the helicopter to travel home. During their visit, the wind direction had become variable and produced a tailwind to the parked position of the helicopter. The pilot stated that prior to takeoff he did not reposition the helicopter directly into the wind while it was on the ground, as he felt the wind was not that strong. During takeoff, as the helicopter lifted off the ground and into a hover, the pilot started a right turn to position the helicopter into the wind. The helicopter drifted left of the landing pad area and the pilot recalled the helicopter spinning to the right faster than he had anticipated and he counteracted by adding additional power and left pedal to slow the rate of turn. As the helicopter was in the turn, he heard the low rpm warning and the low rotor rpm warning light illuminated. The pilot then attempted to enter a hover autorotation; however, the helicopter did not make the landing pad. The helicopter touched down on the slope of the hill and rolled over. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical problems with the helicopter prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that he and two passengers traveled to a friend's private residence in the accident helicopter and landed on a hill with a slope. They were at the residence for a few hours before they got back in the helicopter to travel home. During their visit, the wind direction had become variable and produced a tailwind to the parking position of the helicopter. The pilot stated that prior to takeoff he did not reposition the helicopter directly into the wind while it was on the ground, as he felt the wind was not that strong. During takeoff, as the helicopter lifted off the ground and into a hover, the pilot started a right turn to position the helicopter into the wind. The helicopter drifted left of the landing pad area and the pilot recalled the helicopter spinning to the right faster than he had anticipated and he counteracted by adding additional power and left pedal to slow the rate of turn. As the helicopter was in the turn, he heard the low rpm warning and the low rotor rpm warning light illuminated. The pilot then attempted to enter a hover autorotation; however, the helicopter did not make the landing pad. The helicopter touched down on the slope of the hill and rolled over. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical problems with the helicopter prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N688SS
- Reported as
- Robinson R44 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0861
- Airframe hours
- 2,127
- Engine
- Textron Lycoming O-540-F1B5, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Twin Air
- Registered owner
- Sierra Sierra Helicopters Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · November 11, 2009 · 100 hours before
- Departed
- Temecula, CA
- Destination
- FUL · Fullerton, CA
- Airport
- PVT · Private Helipad
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
- 53
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 4, 2009
- Flight hours
- 1,866 total · 52 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.14 inHg
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 1, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.8 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.