Van Nuys Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Santa Clarita, California 91355
Thursday, September 8, 2005 11:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The helicopter rolled over while hover taxiing into position for a takeoff. The pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings in a dry river bed. Following a landing, the pilot was repositioning the helicopter to the right when the right skid contacted wet sand and dug in. The helicopter began tipping to the right and the pilot responded by applying left cyclic. The pilot told Federal Aviation Administration inspectors that he then made the mistake of increasing the collective in an attempt to clear the obstruction. The helicopter rolled over to the right and sustained substantial damage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper use of the collective control while attempting to free the right skid, which induced a dynamic rollover.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/8/2005
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Santa Clarita
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91355
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 341221N
Event Location Longitude 1182914W
Event Location Airport Van Nuys Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KVNY
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 17
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1151 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KVNY
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19018
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 31 2006 7:35AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Federal Aviation Admnistration Van Nuys FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8348T
NTSB Number LAX05CA291
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 --
Aircraft Serial Number 2680
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PROJECT 80 USA INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 16700 ROSCOE BLVD
Aircraft Owner City Van Nuys
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91406
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Orbic Helicopters
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 16700 Roscoe Boulevard
Operator City Van Nuys
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 91406
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code VNY
Departure City Van Nuys
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 13 2005 5:08PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --