Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Carlsbad, California 92008
Saturday, April 4, 1992 11:20 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE SAFETY PILOT REPORTED THAT THE PILOT ENTERED A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING WITH THE INTENTION OF PERFORMING A POWER RECOVERY. HE SAID THE PILOT STARTED A 'FLARE' AT ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. HE FURTHER REPORTED THAT AT ABOUT 20 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, A GUST OF WIND CAUSED THE HELICOPTER'S DESCENT TO ACCELERATE. THE SAFETY PILOT THEN JOINED THE PILOT IN TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL. HE SAID THE RATE OF DESCENT WAS REDUCED. THE SAFETY PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED ITS DESCENT WITH ONE SKID ON A 'ONE FOOT ROCK BUILT UP AREA.' THE SAFETY PILOT SAID '...THE AIRCRAFT QUICKLY (AND WITHOUT ANY WAY TO RECOVER) TIPPED OVER ON ITS SIDE (LEFT).' THE SAFETY PILOT SAID THAT HE THOUGHT THEY (HE AND THE OTHER PILOT) HAD RECOVERED AT '1-2 FOOT OF HEIGHT' BUT THE RAISED ROCK AREA CAUGHT THE SKID CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO ROLLOVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, HIS FAILURE TO ARREST THE DESCENT RATE IN A TIMELY FASHION, AND THE SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO PRACTICE AUTOROTATIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/4/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1120
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City CARLSBAD
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92008
Event Date Year 1992
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
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 2000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2002
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46741
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:51PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4071J
NTSB Number LAX92LA168
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-22B
Aircraft Series Identifier R-22B
Aircraft Serial Number 1443
Certified Max Gross Weight 1240
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 Mar 28 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 1604
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CIVIC HELICOPTERS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2192 "H" PALOMAR RD.
Aircraft Owner City CARLBAD
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92008
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CIVIC HELICOPTERS, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2192 "H" PALOMAR RD.
Operator City CARLBAD
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92008
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
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 --