Robinson R22A N8557Z

Summary

On 30 May 1990 at about 02:00 local time, a Robinson R22A registered N8557Z, operated by Rolling Hills Aviation, Inc., was involved in an accident near Torrance, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 May 1990 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Torrance, California, United States

Nearest airport

Torrance (TOA)

Coordinates

33.7997, -118.3509

Aircraft

Robinson R22A

Registration

N8557Z

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Rolling Hills Aviation, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX90LA204

Nobody was injured.

THIS ACCIDENT WAS A DYNAMIC ROLL OVER DUE TO THE RIGHT SKID ENCOUNTERING SOFT SOIL DURING THE FORCED LANDING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS FROM BOTH THE INSTRUCTOR AND THE STUDENT, FOUR PRACTICE AUTOROTATIONS HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED WITH POWER RECOVERIES PRIOR TO TOUCH DOWN. THE PILOTS NOTED THAT THE FIFTH AUTOROTATION PROCEEDED NORMALLY UNTIL ABOUT 40 FEET AGL WHEN THROTTLE AND COLLECTIVE WAS ADDED TO BEGIN THE POWER RECOVERY. ACCORDING TO BOTH PILOTS STATEMENTS, THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS INCREASED. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD, SLID ALONG THE GROUND AND ROLLED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE AFTER THE RIGHT SKID ENCOUNTERED SOFT SOIL. THE ENGINE AND HELICOPTER WERE EXAMINED WITH NO EVIDENCE OF A SYSTEM FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE ENGINE WAS STARTED IN THE HELICOPTER AND RUN FOR 10 MINUTES. DURING THE TEST RUN, THE ENGINE WAS CYCLED THROUGHOUT ITS NORMAL OPERATING RANGE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.