Camarillo Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Camarillo, California 93010
Wednesday, April 3, 1991 10:39 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE NON-CERTIFICATED STUDENT PILOT WAS TERMINATING AN AUTHORIZED SOLO HELICOPTER FLIGHT AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A SMALL CEMENT PAD. THIS LANDING SITE WAS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR USE BY STUDENT PILOTS. THE STUDENT'S INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO SIGNAL AND MOTION THE STUDENT TO LAND ON A NEARBY RAMP AREA. IN THE LANDING ATTEMPT, THE REAR PORTION OF THE HELICOPTER SKID TUBES WERE HANGING OVER THE EDGE OF THE PAD AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO TIP TO THE REAR. THE PILOT APPLIED ABRUPT UP COLLECTIVE PITCH AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SPIN. THE TAIL CONTACTED THE GROUND DESTROYING THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES AND STABILIZER. THE HELICOPTER THEN ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE INSTRUCTOR HAD PREVIOUSLY ADVISED THE STUDENT NOT TO USE THE CEMENT LANDING PAD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND APPLY PROPER REMEDIAL ACTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPER SELECTION OF THE TOUCHDOWN POINT AND THE DISREGARDING OF COMPANY PROCEDURES.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/3/1991
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1039
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City CAMARILLO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93010
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CAMARILLO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CMA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 75
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) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 421
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43708
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9068T
NTSB Number LAX91LA146
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 R22HP
Aircraft Series Identifier R22HP
Aircraft Serial Number 173
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ADVANCED HELICOPTERS INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 800 AVIATION DR.
Operator City CAMARILLO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93010
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1015
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 10:35AM
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 --