Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

El Monte, California 91733
Sunday, October 11, 1992 11:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE ON A LOCAL HELICOPTER SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT THE PILOT DEMONSTRATED A PINNACLE LANDING TO HILL TOP PLATEAU. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE FLARED HE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER WHICH FORCED HIM TO LAND ON THE EDGE OF THE HILL. THE ENGINE POWER THEN RESTORED AND THE PILOT LIFTED OFF THE HELICOPTER AND AIR TAXIED IT TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE PLATEAU. DURING THE AIR TAXI THE ENGINE AGAIN LOST POWER AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND ROLLED OVER. FAA INSPECTORS REPORTED THAT THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THE IMPACT WAS CONSISTENT WITH A LOW ROTOR RPM HARD LANDING. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREXISTING MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE ROTOR RPM.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/11/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City EL MONTE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91733
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 10
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 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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
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) 740
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 11 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1332
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 48151
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:23PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N162B
NTSB Number LAX93LA010
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 BELL
Aircraft Model 47-D1
Aircraft Series Identifier 47-D1
Aircraft Serial Number 16
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 Oct 3 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 8916
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILSON, ROBERT B.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1822 1/2 NEWPORT BLVD #175
Aircraft Owner City NEWPORT BEACH
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92627
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name OCHWATT, ROBERT & EDWARD
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 12016 VOSE STREET
Operator City N. HOLLYWOOD
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 91605
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BUR
Departure City BURBANK
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code BUR
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 10:35AM
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 --