Robinson R-22B N4081P
4 May 1992 · Sun Valley, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 4 May 1992 at about 20:25 local time, a Robinson R-22B registered N4081P, operated by Complete Aviation Services, was involved in an accident near Sun Valley, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 20:25
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Sun Valley, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 34.2308, -118.3393
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B
- Registration
- N4081P
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Complete Aviation Services
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Burbank → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX92LA199
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
1) FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING BY THE CFI AND HIS FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, AND 2) THE CFI'S MISJUDGEMENT OF THE LANDING FLARE TIMING DURING THE AUTO ROTATION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT SAID THAT HE HAD FLOWN THE HELICOPTER ON THE FLIGHT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT SESSION FOR ABOUT 1.2 HOURS. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN THAT FLIGHT WITH FULL FUEL TANKS AND IT WAS NOT REFUELED AFTER LANDING. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT HE PERFORMED THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WITH THE STUDENT ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT AND VISUALLY LOOKED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK AND DETERMINED THAT ABOUT ONE HOUR AND FORTY MINUTES OF FUEL WAS ON BOARD. HE SAID THAT HE DID NOT USE A MEASURING DEVICE TO QUANTIFY THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK, BUT RATHER VISUALLY ESTIMATED THAT THE AMOUNT HE OBSERVED MATCHED THE FUEL GAGE. AFTER DEPARTURE FROM BURBANK THE FLIGHT PROCEEDED TO THE LOCAL PRACTICE AREA WHERE THE ONE HOUR DUAL STUDENT WAS GIVEN A LESSON ON PRIMARY FLIGHT MANEUVERS. THE FLIGHT WAS ON APPROACH TO THE BURBANK AIRPORT AFTER ONE HOUR AND TWELVE MINUTES WHEN THE LOW FUEL LEVEL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE INSTRUCTOR NOTED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER AND HE EXECUTED AN AUTO ROTATION TO A CITY PARK. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, BENDING THE TAIL BOOM. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE TANK AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R-22B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Apr 1992 | Robinson R-22B | Carlsbad, California, United States | Civic Helicopters, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Dec 1992 | Robinson R-22B | Long Beach, California, United States | CSR Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 2 Jun 1992 | Robinson R-22B | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fredrick G. Cleeves | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jan 1992 | Robinson R-22B | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | Wilkes, Clyde H. | No injuries | - |
| 28 Mar 1992 | Robinson R-22B | Phillipsburg, Ohio, United States | M.g. Helicopters, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 1992 | Robinson R-22B | Barstow, California, United States | Helicopter Services of Nevada | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb 1992 | Piper PA-28R-201T | Ludlow, California, United States | Higgins, Melvin W & Jean | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Feb 1992 | Beechcraft C-23 | Fullerton, California, United States | Eldon R. Howe | No injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1992 | Cessna 150 | San Jose, California, United States | Veda Corporation | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1992 | Cessna 182N | San Ardo, California, United States | Soil Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1992 | Grumman G-164B | Dixon, California, United States | Sunrise Duster, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1992 | Bellanca 7ECA | Apple Valley, California, United States | Chester Waite | Serious injuries | - |