NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE REPORT

LAX92FA410.html

1992, 2f, HAI helicopter crash at hidden valley

   Data Source:                          NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE
   Report Number:                        LAX92FA410 
   Local Date:                           09/30/1992
   Local Time:                           1445 PDT
   State:                                CA    
   City:                                 MARTINEZ                           
   Airport Name:                                                  
   Airport Id:                                 
   Event Type:                           ACCIDENT
   Injury Severity:                      FATAL  
   Report Status:                        FINAL      
   Mid Air Collision:                    NO 

   Category of Operation:                GENERAL AVIATION       
   Aircraft Type:                        HELICOPTER     
   Aircraft Damage:                      DESTROYED        
   Phase of Flight:                      540 CRUISE                                            
   Aircraft Make/Model:                  ROBSIN R-22-22                  
   Operator Doing Business As:                                         
   Operator Name:                        HELICOPTER ADVENTURES INC.    
   Operator Code:                        HIAV
   Operator:                                                                       
   Owner Name:                           P. J. MCCLELLAN LTD.          

   THE CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT DEPARTED 
   FOR A SHORT HELICOPTER DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT IN CLEAR VFR CONDITIONS.  
   THREE MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE, THE HELICOPTER WAS OVER-FLYING AN URBAN 
   PARK AREA, ABOUT 1 AND 1/2 MILES WEST OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT.  
   WITNESSES HEARD POPPING, BANGING, AND THUMPING NOISES.  THE ENGINE 
   THEN QUIT RUNNING.  THE MAIN ROTOR DEPARTED ITS NORMAL PLANE OF ROTATION 
   WITH SUFFICIENT RPM TO CONTACT THE RIGHT FRONT PORTION OF THE 
   COCKPIT WINDSHIELD AND STRIKE THE RIGHT SEAT PASSENGE R.  MAIN ROTOR 
   RPM THEN IMMEDIATELY DECAYED AND STOPPED. THE HELICOPTER WAS THEN 
   OBSERVED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ANGLE OF DESCENT UNTIL IMPACTING THE 
   GROUND.  NO MALFUNCTION OF THE ENGINE, DRIVE TRAIN, OR FLIGHT CONTROLS 
   WAS FOUND.

   Occurrence #: 1  370 PROPELLER/ROTOR CONTACT TO PERSON
   Phase of Operation: 540 CRUISE

           Findings
           Subject - Modifier - Personnel Cause/Factor

     1b.   25000(S) - 3001(M) - 4001(P)
           REASON FOR OCCURRENCE UNDETERMINED -                                    -                                   

   Occurrence #: 2  250 LOSS OF CONTROL - IN FLIGHT
   Phase of Operation: 553 DESCENT - UNCONTROLLED

           Findings
           Subject - Modifier - Personnel Cause/Factor

     1b.   24566(S) - 3131(M) - 4000(P)
           AIRCRAFT CONTROL - NOT POSSIBLE - PILOT IN COMMAND

   Occurrence #: 3  230 IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN/WATER
   Phase of Operation: 553 DESCENT - UNCONTROLLED

           Findings
           Subject - Modifier - Personnel Cause/Factor

     1a.   19200(S) - 2417(M)
           TERRAIN CONDITION - OPEN FIELD

    AN UNDETERMINED DIVERGENCE OF THE MAIN ROTOR FROM ITS NORMAL PLANE OF 
   ROTATION WHICH RESULTED IN ROTOR CONTACT TO THE FUSELAGE AND PASSENGER.

   Number of Seats:                      2  
   Aircraft Use:                         INSTRUCTIONAL      
   Type of Operation:                    14 CFR 91 
   Domestic/International:                            
   Passenger/Cargo:                                        
   Registration Number:                  8069X 
   Air Carrier Operating Certificates:   ON-DEMAND AIR TAXI
   Aircraft Fire:                        NONE

                  Injuries
          Fatal  Serious  Minor  None
   Crew      1       0       0      0
   Pass      1       0       0      0
   Other     0       0       0      0
   Invlvd    2       0       0      0

   Landing Gear:                         SKID
   Certificated Maximum Gross Weight:    1370
   Engine Make:                          LYCOMING     
   Engine Model:                         O-320-B2C    
   Number of Engines:                     1
   Engine Type:                          RECIPROCATING-CARBURETOR    

   Basic Weather Conditions:             VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC)  
   Wind Direction (deg):                 240
   Wind Speed (knots):                   14
   Visibility (sm):                      20
   Visibility RVR (ft):                  0
   Visibility RVV (sm):                  0
   Cloud Height Above Ground Level (ft): 4000
   Visibility Restrictions:              NONE
   Precipitation Type:                   NONE
   Light Condition:                      DAYLIGHT
   Departure Airport Id:                 CCR 
   Departure City:                       CONCORD        
   Departure State:                      CA
   Destination Airport Id:                   
   Destination City:                                    
   Destination State:                      
   Flight Plan Filed:                    NONE
   ATC Clearance:                        VFR
   VFR Approach/Landing:                 NONE
   Event Location:                       OFF AIRPORT/AIRSTRIP

   Certificates:                         COMMERCIAL, FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR
   Ratings:
     Plane:                              NONE
     Non-Plane:                          HELICOPTER
     Instrument:                         NONE
   Had Current BFR:                      YES
   Months Since Last BFR:                4
   Medical Certificate:                  CLASS 2
   Medical Certificate Validity:         VALID MEDICAL-WITH WAIVERS/LIMITATIONS

              Flight Time (Hours)
   Total       :    234  Last 24 Hrs :    5
   Make/Model  :    234  Last 30 Days:   53
   Instrument  :      6  Last 90 Days:   60
   Multi-Engine:      0  Rotorcraft  :  234