Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Venice, California 90291
Tuesady, July 27, 1993 19:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS CONDUCTING A TRAINING FLIGHT WITH A STUDENT PILOT. WITNESSES REPORTED OBSERVING THE HELICOPTER NORTHBOUND AT LOW LEVEL, PARALLELING A BEACH. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN AN ABRUPT CLIMB TO ABOUT 150 FEET, FOLLOWED BY A RAPID DESCENDING 180 DEGREE RIGHT TURN TO GO SOUTHBOUND. AS THE HELICOPTER WAS COMPLETING THE TURN AND STILL DESCENDING, IT STRUCK THE BEACH IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS DEMONSTRATING COLLISION AVOIDANCE MANEUVERS BY BEGINNING A TIGHT 36O DEGREE TURN. DURING THE TURN, THE MAIN ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO DECAY AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE OR AIRSPEED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the pilot to maintain proper main rotor RPM, altitude, and airspeed during the performance of a steep turn. Inadequate in-flight planning and overconfidence in the pilot's abilities were factors in this accident.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/27/1993
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City VENICE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 90291
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 7
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 1100
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 27 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N23517
NTSB Number LAX93LA302
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-B
Aircraft Series Identifier R22-B
Aircraft Serial Number 2231
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 Jul 27 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 702
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name COMPLETE AVIATION SERVICES INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3000 N. CLYBOURN AVE.
Aircraft Owner City BURBANK
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91505
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name COMPLETE AVIATION SERVICES INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 3000 N CLYBOURN AVE.
Operator City BURBANK
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 91505
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BUR
Departure City BURBANK
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1800
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 Maneuvering
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --