Van Nuys Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Van Nuys, California 91406
Wednesday, July 8, 1992 16:55 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE FIRST PILOT WAS PRACTICING HOVERING FROM A MOVABLE HELIPAD FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. DURING THIS TIME THE FIRST PILOT PERFORMED 5 VERTICAL LIFT-OFFS AND LANDINGS. AFTER THE LAST LANDING THE SECOND PILOT BOARDED THE HELICOPTER AND OCCUPIED THE LEFT FRONT SEAT. THE SECOND PILOT INITIATED A LIFT-OFF TO A HOVER AND DURING THIS TIME THE FIRST PILOT FAILED TO SUPERVISE THE FLIGHT AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO DRIFT OFF THE HELIPAD TO THE RIGHT. THE SECOND PILOT FAILED TO APPLY THE PROPER FLIGHT CONTROLS TO ARREST THE DRIFT EVEN THOUGH THE FIRST PILOT REPORTED THAT BOTH PILOTS APPLIED FULL LEFT CYCLIC. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE CONTACTED THE ASPHALT RAMP SURFACE AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURES. BOTH PILOTS HAD ONLY ACCRUED 2 FLIGHT HOURS IN THE HELICOPTER MAKE AND MODEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE SECOND PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE ROTORCRAFT FLIGHT CONTROLS AND THE FIRST PILOT'S POOR SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT. A FACTOR RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS BOTH PILOT'S INEXPERIENCE IN THE HELICOPTER MAKE AND MODEL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/8/1992
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1655
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City VAN NUYS
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91406
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport VAN NUYS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID VNY
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 799
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) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 3021
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 8 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1845
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47328
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:05PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5061F
NTSB Number LAX92LA288
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 HILLER
Aircraft Model FH-1100
Aircraft Series Identifier FH-1100
Aircraft Serial Number 223
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MILLER, ROBERT L.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5625 PENLAND
Aircraft Owner City HIDDEN HILLS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91302
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PACIFIC SHORE AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 16700 ROSCOE BLVD
Operator City VAN NUYS
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 91406
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 VNY
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1654
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 Hover
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 --