Robinson R22 N8319T

Summary

On 28 December 2018 at about 18:45 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N8319T was involved in an accident near Hayward, 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

28 December 2018 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Hayward, California, United States

Nearest airport

Hayward Executive (KHWD)

Coordinates

37.6639, -122.1281

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N8319T

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1994

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hayward → Hayward

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR19CA052

Nobody was injured.

An in-flight collision with a bird during low-altitude maneuvering, which resulted in a hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that the student pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings at the airport. The student took off from taxiway Z and flew a right traffic pattern with the intent to land on taxiway A. As the helicopter was making a right crosswind turn over a golf course at 300 ft above ground level, a large bird flew out of the trees and struck the tail rotor. The flight instructor took over control of the helicopter as it began to yaw, and he subsequently initiated an autorotation to the golf course, and the helicopter landed hard. The tailboom and fuselage were substantially damaged. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Bird remains identified as a turkey vulture were found on the golf course. The average weight of the species is 4 lbs.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.