- Date
- July 18, 2024, 16:25 local (23:25 UTC)
- Place
- Carlsbad, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N886JBRobinson Helicopter R44
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Dynamic rollover
- 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
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20240718013149A
- Case key
- 194746
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 while departing with a crosswind, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
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 of the helicopter reported that he was attempting to depart from a platform. The helicopter was oriented perpendicular to the prevailing wind and the rotor wash of a nearby helicopter. As the pilot raised collective to climb, the helicopter immediately rolled over to the right and impacted the asphalt. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N886JB
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 30058
- Built
- 2019
- Airframe hours
- 549
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-F1B5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Civic Helicopters Inc
- Registered owner
- Civic Helicopters Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 5, 2024
- Airport
- KCRQ · Mc Clellan - Palomar
- Equipment
- Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display
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
- 59
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 11, 2023
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 2,501.7 total · 2,425.2 as pilot in command · 49 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- KCRQ
- METAR
- KCRQ 182353Z AUTO 25008KT 10SM CLR 21/17 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP139 T02110167 10222 20206 58009
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 27, 2025, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.5 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.