Rialto Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rialto, California 92376
Sunday, January 24, 1988 15:10 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A HUGHES 369D COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN WHILE CONDUCTING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION. THE PIC WAS DEMONSTRATING A DIFFERENT WAY TO MANEUVER THE HELO TO ACCOMPLISH THE AUTO. THE PIC PLANNED TO HOLD 80 KTS A/S UNTIL THE HELO WAS 'RIGHT ON OUR SPOT,' THEN USE A 'BIG FLARE' TO COMPLETE THE MANEUVER. THE PIC ENTERED AUTO, DOVE THE HELO TO ACHIEVE 80 KTS AND STARTED A 180 DEG TURN. THE PIC MAINTAINED THIS FLT ATTITUDE UNTIL THE OTHER PLT 'BECAME CONCERNED' OVER THE HELO'S PROXIMITY TO THE GND. THE ROTOR RPM INDICATED LOW GREEN. THE PIC THEN FLARED. THE SKIDS TOUCHED DOWN APRX 300 FT SHORT OF THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN SPOT. THE MANUFACTURER 'NOTES' IN THE MANEUVER GUIDE THAT THE HELO SHOULD BE ALIGNED WITH ITS INTENDED TOUCHDOWN PT PRIOR TO PASSING 50 FT OF ALT. IF THIS IS NOT THE CASE A PWR RECOVERY OR TERMINATION WITH PWR SHOULD BE INITIATED. THE WINDS WERE FROM 355 DEG AT 25 KTS WITH PEAK GUSTS TO 42 KTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/24/1988
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1510
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City RIALTO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92376
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RIALTO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID L67
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
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) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 355
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 25
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 42
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) 1578
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 25 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 715
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37745
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:29AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8366F
NTSB Number LAX88LA095
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 HUGHES
Aircraft Model 369D
Aircraft Series Identifier 369D
Aircraft Serial Number 0082D
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Sep 10 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 71
Airframe Hours 4910
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MICHAEL ZICKA LEASING COMPANY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 11264 GROOMS ROAD
Aircraft Owner City CINCINNATI
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45242
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WESTERN HELICOPTERS, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 579
Operator City RIALTO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92376
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
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 1410
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 --