Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA II accident near Fillmore, CA
On January 31, 2009, a Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA II (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Fillmore, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- January 31, 2009
- Place
- Fillmore, CA
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA II · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.398°N, 118.778°W
- NTSB ID
- 20090201X10015
Official records · WPR09FA104
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 31, 2009, at 1108 Pacific standard time (PST), a Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) R22 Beta II, N4160A, impacted terrain following an in-flight breakup near Fillmore, California. Orbic Helicopters Sales & Service at Camarillo LLC was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The certificated private pilot was killed; the helicopter was substantially damaged by impact forces. The local personal flight departed Camarillo, California, about 1030. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. Witnesses near the accident site reported that they did not hear anything unusual prior to the sound of the crash. The operator stated that the pilot had rented the helicopter for a personal proficiency flight, and believed him to be going to the local practice area. PERSONNEL INFORMATION A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records revealed that the 47-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, and helicopter. The operator reported that the pilot also held a Japanese commercial airplane pilot license, and was employed by a commuter airline in Japan. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) obtained the aeronautical experience listed in this report from a review of the FAA airmen medical records on file in the Airman and Medical Records Center located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The pilot reported on his third-class medical application dated July 7, 2007, that he had a to
Probable cause
An in-flight break-up while maneuvering as a result of the main rotor blades diverging from the normal plane of rotation and severing the tailboom. The underlying reason for the main rotor divergence could not be determined.
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Browse: California · Robinson aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
