- Date
- December 28, 2018, 10:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place
- Hayward, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8319TRobinson R22
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Birdstrike
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 26, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- FAA report
- 20181228024899A
- Case key
- 98822
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
An in-flight collision with a bird during low-altitude maneuvering, which resulted in a hard landing.
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 flight instructor reported that the student pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings at the airport. The student took off from taxiway Z and flew a right traffic pattern with the intent to land on taxiway A. As the helicopter was making a right crosswind turn over a golf course at 300 ft above ground level, a large bird flew out of the trees and struck the tail rotor. The flight instructor took over control of the helicopter as it began to yaw, and he subsequently initiated an autorotation to the golf course, and the helicopter landed hard. The tailboom and fuselage were substantially damaged. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Bird remains identified as a turkey vulture were found on the golf course. The average weight of the species is 4 lbs.
Factual narrative
The flight instructor reported that the student pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings at the airport. The student took off from spot C (taxiway Z), flying a right traffic pattern with the intent to land on taxiway A. As the helicopter was making a right crosswind turn over a golf course at an altitude of about 300 ft above ground level, a large bird flew out of the trees and struck the tail rotor. The flight instructor took over control as the helicopter began to yaw and he subsequently initiated an auto rotation to the golf course. As a result of a hard landing, the tailboom and fuselage were substantially damaged. The flight instructor reported no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Bird remains were found on the golf course and were identified as a Turkey Vulture. The average weight of the species is 4 pounds.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8319T
- Reported as
- Robinson R22 (BETA)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2488
- Built
- 1994
- Airframe hours
- 13,508
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 30, 2018 · 35 hours before
- Departed
- KHWD · Hayward, CA
- Destination
- KHWD · Hayward, CA
- Airport
- KHWD · Hayward Executive
- Equipment
- Unknown
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 37
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 13, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 1,116 total · 900 in this make and model · 999 as pilot in command · 164 in the last 90 days · 59 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 52
- Injuries
- None
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 17.7 total · 17.7 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 8 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.26 inHg
- Observed at
- KHWD
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 5, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.7 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.
Other investigations on N8319T · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.