Robinson R22A N8475A
3 November 1987 · Moraga, California, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 3 November 1987 at about 21:38 local time, a Robinson R22A registered N8475A, operated by Helicopter Adventures, Inc., was involved in an accident near Moraga, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:38
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Moraga, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 37.8296, -122.0990
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22A
- Registration
- N8475A
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Helicopter Adventures, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Concord → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX88FA032
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
A DIVERGENCE OF THE MAIN ROTOR FROM ITS NORMAL PLANE OF ROTATION FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, WHICH RESULTED IN ROTOR CONTACT WITH THE COCKPIT AREA.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE STUDENT WAS ON A DUAL FLIGHT, REVIEWING MANEUVERS & PROCEDURES TO REVALIDATE AN EXPIRED CFI CERTIFICATE. AN EXAM OF HIS LOG REVEALED THAT ON THE LAST 2 FLIGHTS, HE OCCUPIED THE LEFT PILOT SEAT & PRACTICED TEACHING QUICK STOPS, HOVERING AUTOROTATIONS, LOW ROTOR RPM RECOVERY & THROTTLE CUTS. WITNESSES SAID THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN WORKING THE AREA ABOUT 20 MIN NEAR A HILL TOP. THEY SAID THE HELICOPTER WAS HOVERING 'AT 400' AGL' WHEN THE ENGINE NOISE SUDDENLY 'DIED OFF' & THEN THEY HEARD A LOUD 'POP.' THEY SAW PARTS FALLING OFF THE HELICOPTER AS IT FELL. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED A MAIN ROTOR BLADE ENTERED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE COCKPIT. NO PREIMPACT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. TOXICOLOGY TESTS SHOWED A TRACE OF MARIJUANA METABOLITE IN THE INSTRUCTOR'S URINE, BUT A TOXICOLOGIST CONCLUDED THERE WAS NO 'CURRENT INFLUENCE' OF THE DRUG. A TRACE OF COCAINE METABOLITE WAS DETECTED IN THE STUDENT'S URINE. THE SAFETY BOARD FOUND THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO CONCLUDE THAT DRUGS HAD AFFECTED EITHER PILOT'S ABILITY TO OPERATE THE AIRCRAFT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R22A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Aug 1986 | Robinson R22A | Eden Prairie, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Aug 1988 | Robinson R22A | Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Oct 1985 | Robinson R22A | Sterling, Massachusetts, United States | Aviation Training Academy | No injuries | - |
| 20 Dec 1985 | Robinson R22A | Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States | John Veldman | Fatal | - |
| 26 Oct 1989 | Robinson R22A | Simi Valley, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Jan 1989 | Robinson R22A | Santa Barbara, California, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov 1987 | Durbin MONNETT MONI | Ramona, California, United States | Lipner, Robert M. | Serious injuries | - |
| 24 Dec 1987 | Bede BD-5 | Chula Vista, California, United States | Teufel, Armin U. | Fatal | 1 |
| 25 Oct 1987 | Stits ELKINS 85 | Camarillo, California, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 21 Nov 1987 | Isgrigg ELITE | Tehachapi, California, United States | Isgrigg, John | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Dec 1987 | Rolladen-Schneider LS-3 | Santa Ynez, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Jan 1987 | Cessna 152 | San Dimas, California, United States | King Aviation | Minor injuries | - |