Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Paso Robles, California 93446
Friday, March 16, 1990 8:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG THE CFI OBSERVED THAT THE ENGINE AND ROTOR RPM EXCEEDED THE NORMAL OPERATING PARAMETERS. THE CFI ATTEMPTED TO ROLL-OFF THE THROTTLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO BECAUSE THE DUAL STUDENT HAD GRIPPED THE THROTTLE CONTROL. THE CFI THEN FORCEFULLY ROLLED-OFF THE THROTTLE AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO ROLL-ON THE THROTTLE BUT THIS ACTION CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SUSTAIN A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE CFI IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION, BUT THE RPM WAS TOO SLOW TO PREVENT A HARD LANDING. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM ASSY ON LANDING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE DUAL STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN PROPER ROTOR/ENGINE POWER AND TO RELINQUISH THE THROTTLE CONTROL WHEN THE CFI ATTEMPTED TO REDUCE THE POWER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/16/1990
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City PASO ROBLES
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93446
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 3
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 830
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 750 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID PRB
Elevation of weather observation facility 830
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 315
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 16 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41252
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8079Q
NTSB Number LAX90LA119
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
Aircraft Series Identifier R22
Aircraft Serial Number 1324
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name UNKNOWN
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name KYODO FLIGHT SCHOOL INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4990 WINGS WAY
Operator City PASO ROBLES
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93446
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 725
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 Descent
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 --