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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

November 3, 1987 · Robinson R22A · N8475A

Moraga, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 3, 1987
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Moraga, CA
Aircraft
Robinson R22A
Tail Number
N8475A
Operator
Helicopter Adventures
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX88FA032

The student was on a dual flight, reviewing maneuvers & procedures to revalidate an expired CFI certificate. An exam of his log revealed that on the last 2 flights, he occupied the left pilot seat & practiced teaching quick stops, hovering autorotations, low rotor RPM recovery & throttle cuts. Witnesses said the helicopter had been working the area about 20 min near a hill top. They said the helicopter was hovering 'at 400' AGL' when the engine noise suddenly 'died off' & then they heard a loud 'pop.' They saw parts falling off the helicopter as it fell. An exam of the wreckage revealed a main rotor blade entered the left side of the cockpit. No preimpact system malfunction was found. Toxicology tests showed a trace of marijuana metabolite in the instructor's urine, but a toxicologist concluded there was no 'current influence' of the drug. A trace of cocaine metabolite was detected in the student's urine. The Safety Board found that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that drugs had affected either pilot's ability to operate the aircraft.

NTSB Probable Cause

A DIVERGENCE OF THE MAIN ROTOR FROM ITS NORMAL PLANE OF ROTATION FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, WHICH RESULTED IN ROTOR CONTACT WITH THE COCKPIT AREA.

Full Narrative

THE STUDENT WAS ON A DUAL FLIGHT, REVIEWING MANEUVERS & PROCEDURES TO REVALIDATE AN EXPIRED CFI CERTIFICATE. AN EXAM OF HIS LOG REVEALED THAT ON THE LAST 2 FLIGHTS, HE OCCUPIED THE LEFT PILOT SEAT & PRACTICED TEACHING QUICK STOPS, HOVERING AUTOROTATIONS, LOW ROTOR RPM RECOVERY & THROTTLE CUTS. WITNESSES SAID THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN WORKING THE AREA ABOUT 20 MIN NEAR A HILL TOP. THEY SAID THE HELICOPTER WAS HOVERING 'AT 400' AGL' WHEN THE ENGINE NOISE SUDDENLY 'DIED OFF' & THEN THEY HEARD A LOUD 'POP.' THEY SAW PARTS FALLING OFF THE HELICOPTER AS IT FELL. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED A MAIN ROTOR BLADE ENTERED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE COCKPIT. NO PREIMPACT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. TOXICOLOGY TESTS SHOWED A TRACE OF MARIJUANA METABOLITE IN THE INSTRUCTOR'S URINE, BUT A TOXICOLOGIST CONCLUDED THERE WAS NO 'CURRENT INFLUENCE' OF THE DRUG. A TRACE OF COCAINE METABOLITE WAS DETECTED IN THE STUDENT'S URINE. THE SAFETY BOARD FOUND THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO CONCLUDE THAT DRUGS HAD AFFECTED EITHER PILOT'S ABILITY TO OPERATE THE AIRCRAFT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:38 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRobinson R22A
Tail NumberN8475A
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorHelicopter Adventures
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-B2C · Reciprocating · 160
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 32 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 6 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 48
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time20:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data