# NTSB WPR22LA072: Cessna 120, N76646, Upland, CA, January 3, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 3, 2022, 12:05 local (20:05 UTC)
- Place: Upland, CA · Airport
- Coordinates: 34.111611, -117.68738
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1116&lon=-117.6874&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104480
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA072
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104480/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104480
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA072

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of airplane control during a go-around as it encountered wake turbulence from a slow hover taxiing helicopter.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Turbulence: wake turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032025/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032025/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tail wheeled-equipped airplane reported that, he was on an approach to land at an uncontrolled airport behind two helicopters. An airport surveillance video showed the accident airplane flying over the runway about 20 seconds after a helicopter was in a slow hover taxi adjacent to the runway. The pilot reported that he saw the helicopter and decided to land long to maintain separation. He added that while on short final, he saw a helicopter “cross” the runway, so he increased engine power to full and attempted a go-around. About one-third of the way down the length of the runway, the airplane encountered the helicopter’s downwash, and the airplane entered an uncommanded steep right bank. The pilot applied opposite aileron, but he was not able to maintain control of the airplane. Subsequently, the airplane impacted right of the runway and sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular No. 90-23G, Aircraft Wake Turbulence, “pilots should avoid taxiing or flying within a distance of three rotor diameters of a helicopter hovering or in a slow hover taxi, as the downwash can contain high wind speeds. Figure 1. Except of Helicopter Vortices Figure from AC 90-23G

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N76646](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N76646-2024-04-13), registration cancelled 2024-04-13, S/N 11086 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 120
- Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 11086
- Year built: 1946
- Engines: Continental C85 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Nextgen Flight Academy Inc
- Registered owner: Nextgen Flight Academy Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KRAL, Riverside, CA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: CCB, Cable, runway 24, 3,863 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 4, 2021; seat: right; flight hours: 1,107.7 total, 18.8 in this make and model, 1,007.5 as pilot in command, 175.9 in the last 90 days, 52.9 in the last 30 days, 4.3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observed at: KCCB
- METAR: KCCB 032035Z AUTO 21004KT 10SM CLR 15/M10 A3016 RMK AO2

## 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 20220103021569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220103021569A), Jan 3, 2022: Cessna 120, Upland, CA, Destroyed. Huey helicopter hovering in air at approximately 30 ft (witness) causing rotor wash to disrupt landing of Cessna 120. Prior to touchdown, rotor wash created…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 14, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104480. 41.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14009057&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pont%20One_R-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 19 pages, 25.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13817830&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20N76646-Rel.pdf
- Airport video (item 3, MP4, 14.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14008634&FileExtension=MP4&FileName=20220103_120503-14thExit-Rel-Rel.MP4
- Accident photo (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 191 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13817270&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20072-Rel.pdf

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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