Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near Murrieta, CA
On July 9, 2012, a Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Murrieta, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 9, 2012
- Place
- Murrieta, CA
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.563°N, 117.063°W
- NTSB ID
- 20120709X83554
Official records · WPR12FA298
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 9, 2012, about 1015 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, N7527Y, impacted terrain following a loss of control while hovering at an off field landing site near Murrieta, California. The flight instructor was fatally injured and his student was not injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The helicopter was being operated by USA Academy of Aviation, Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. A flight plan had not been filed for the local instructional flight, which originated from French Valley Airport, Murrieta, about 0900. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The student reported that they were practicing off field landings. According to the student, the instructor pointed toward a hill and explained that he would demonstrate a “fast landing” approach. The instructor flew toward the hill at about 50 knots, flared to slow the helicopter, and came to a hover at the center of the hill top. The instructor hovered at 3 to 4 feet above the ground heading south into the wind, performed a left pedal turn to the east and then started to lift off. At this point, the helicopter rolled rapidly to the right, and the main rotor blades hit the ground. When the helicopter came to rest, it was lying on its left side. The student exited the helicopter and found that the instructor was trapped beneath the fuselage and was not responsive. The student reported that he was not on the flight controls when the accident occurred. He did not report any preimpact mechanical discrepancie
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from high vegetation while making a hovering turn, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
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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.
