Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Palm Springs, California 92262
Wednesday, August 2, 1989 15:08 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE ENROUTE TO HIS FIRST DESTINATION OF A SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE RECENTLY RATED PILOT OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER'S ENGINE RPM SIGHTLY BELOW THE NORMAL RANGE. HE WAS UNABLE TO INCREASE THE RPM AND ELECTED TO ENTER AN AUTOROTATIVE DESCENT TO THE GROUND. DURING THE AUTOROTATION, HE OBSERVED ELECTRICAL POWER LINES IN HIS FLIGHT PATH AND MANEUVERED TO AVOID THEM. THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND SERIOUSLY INJURING THE PILOT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY MANIPULATE THE THROTTLE CONTROL TO MAINTAIN ENGINE/ROTOR RPM AND HIS DECISION TO ENTER AN AUTOROTATION (FORCED LANDING). HIS EAGERNESS TO LAND AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/2/1989
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1508
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City PALM SPRINGS
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92262
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 8
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1446 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 124
Weather Observation Facility ID PSP
Elevation of weather observation facility 462
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 40
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2139
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 3 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1020
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41727
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N971JG
NTSB Number LAX89LA259
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
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 0843
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 HELISTREAM, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3000 AIRWAY AVE SUITE 200
Aircraft Owner City COSTA MESA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92626
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Airport Code SNA
Departure City SANTA ANA
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1415
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PSP
Destination City PALM SPRINGS
Destination State CA
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --