Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Healdsburg, California 95448
Sunday, April 2, 1995 11:20 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT INITIATED A STRAIGHT-IN PRACTICE AUTOROTATION FROM 550 FEET AGL. THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT DURING THE DESCENT AIRSPEED AND RPM WERE MAINTAINED WITHIN LIMITS. AT 40 FEET AGL, THE STUDENT INITIATED HIS FLARE, BUT APPLIED AFT CYCLIC SO ABRUPTLY AND WITH SUCH FORCE THAT THE INSTRUCTOR WAS UNABLE TO COUNTERACT THE MOVEMENT. THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO DESCEND IN A TAIL-LOW ATTITUDE UNTIL THE STINGER AND TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND, BUCKLING THE TAILBOOM. THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT WINDS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the instructor failed to adequately monitor the student pilot's actions and to react within the control margin necessary to successfully initiate a corrective action.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/2/1995
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1120
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City HEALDSBURG
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95448
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1145 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID STS
Elevation of weather observation facility 125
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 69
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 4 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:12PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2323K
NTSB Number LAX95LA153
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 R22 BETA
Aircraft Series Identifier R22 BETA
Aircraft Serial Number 2095
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 18 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 76
Airframe Hours 1888
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SONTAG, HAYSSEN, BLAU
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 3535
Aircraft Owner City SANTA ROSA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95402
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2244 AVIATION BOULEVARD
Operator City SANTA ROSA
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95403
Operator Code PGNA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code STS
Departure City SANTA ROSA
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1040
Departure Time Zone PST
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 Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
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 --