- Date
- April 28, 2023, 15:26 local (22:26 UTC)
- Place
- Van Nuys, CA · Van Nuys Airport
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N549TSRobinson Helicopter R44 II
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20230428006469A
- Case key
- 107165
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 lateral control of the helicopter, which resulted in a hard landing.
Findings · 3
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 picking up to reposition, the helicopter initiated a roll to the left. While attempting to recover, the helicopter impacted the ground and the left skid collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail rotor. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N549TS
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44 II
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 11075
- Built
- 2006
- Airframe hours
- 1,478.7
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5, 245 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Aggregate Material Services LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 18, 2023 · 33 hours before
- Departed
- KVNY · Van Nuys, CA
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Airport
- KVNY · Van Nuys Airport
- Equipment
- ADS-B
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
- Pilot
- Age
- 73
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 600 total · 600 in this make and model
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 59
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 10, 2023
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 2,112 total · 269 in this make and model · 2,065 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 312 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Observed at
- KVNY
- METAR
- METAR KVNY 282251Z 14008KT 10SM CLR 28/12 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP125 T02830122=
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.