Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary LAX92LA005

HONOLULU, HI, USA

Aircraft #1

N900AB

ROBINSON R22B

Analysis

ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS FROM BOTH THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT, THE FLIGHT WAS PRACTICING PINNACLE APPROACHES IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID HE PERFORMED A HIGH RECONNAISSANCE OF THE SPOT, AND THEN THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED A DOWN DRAFT DURING THE FINAL APPROACH TO THE PEAK. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID HE PERFORMED A RIGHT PEDDLE TURN TO FLY DOWN THE SLOPE OVER A STREAM. THE LOW ROTOR HORN CAME ON AND THE INSTRUCTOR SAID HE ATTEMPTED TO GET THE ROTOR RPM BACK INTO THE GREEN ARC BUT BEFORE HIS CONTROL INPUTS WERE EFFECTIVE THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE COLLIDED WITH TREES ON THE STREAM BANK AND THE HELICOPTER CRASHED INTO THE WATER.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ND THE FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ROTOR RPM.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

Get all the details on your iPhone or iPad with:

Aviation Accidents App

In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports