Ranchaero Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chico, California 95926
Thursday, September 22, 1994 18:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT HELICOPTER PILOT RECEIVED SOME DUAL INSTRUCTION BEFORE BEGINNING HIS SECOND SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT. THE INSTRUCTOR REMINDED THE STUDENT PILOT THAT HE WOULD NEED MORE RIGHT CYCLIC CONTROL THAN HE WAS USED TO. ON LIFT-OFF, THE STUDENT APPLIED TOO MUCH CYCLIC CONTROL AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT. THE INSTRUCTOR OBSERVED THE STUDENT APPLY SOME LEFT CYCLIC, BUT NOT ENOUGH. THE RIGHT SKID DUG INTO THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the student pilot's improper use of the flight controls. The student pilot's lack of experience in the helicopter is a factor in this accident.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/22/1994
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City CHICO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95926
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RANCHAERO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID O23
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 180
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1745 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 353
Weather Observation Facility ID CIC
Elevation of weather observation facility 238
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 678
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 22 1984 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1845
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:16PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4001B
NTSB Number LAX94LA374
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROBINSON
Aircraft Model R-22
Aircraft Series Identifier R-22
Aircraft Serial Number 1388
Certified Max Gross Weight 1370
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1720
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name INCOME PROPERTIES
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 70028
Aircraft Owner City STOCKTON
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95267
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SIERRA AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2599 OAK PARK AVENUE
Operator City CHICO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95928
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1745
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --