Robinson R-22 N8047Y
11 May 1994 · Hacienda Height, California, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 11 May 1994 at about 04:42 local time, a Robinson R-22 registered N8047Y, operated by Skyline Aviation, Inc., was involved in an accident near Hacienda Height, California, United States. 5 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 04:42
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Hacienda Height, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 34.0006, -117.9690
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22
- Registration
- N8047Y
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Skyline Aviation, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Burbank → Chino
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- LAX94FA214
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of an en route cruise altitude which provided insufficient obstruction clearance, and his inadequate visual lookout. Factors in the night time accident were the reduced visibility as a result of the fog and haze.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE UPPER STATIC CABLE OF POWER TRANSMISSION LINES WHILE ON A NIGHT CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE HELICOPTER FLYING LOW FOR SEVERAL MILES BEFORE THE COLLISION. AFTER THE COLLISION, THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE INDICATED THE CENTER POST OF THE CANOPY STRUCK THE CABLE FIRST. THE VISIBILITY WAS REPORTED AS 6 STATUTE MILES WITH HAZE AND FOG. THE WIRES ARE DEPICTED ON THE HELICOPTER ROUTE CHART AND THE VFR TERMINAL AREA CHART. THE CABLE SUPPORT TOWERS WERE LIGHTED ON THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-ACCIDENT MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE HELICOPTER. THREE AUTOMOBILES WERE DAMAGED WHEN THE HELICOPTER CRASHED. ONE AUTOMOBILE STOPPED IN THE WESTBOUND LANES SHORT OF CRASHED HELICOPTER AND ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE STRUCK THE REAR OF THE STOPPED VEHICLE. AN AUTOMOBILE IN THE EASTBOUND LANES STRUCK THE HELICOPTER'S MAST AND WAS DAMAGED. ALL REPORTED INJURIES ON THE GROUND WERE A RESULT OF AUTOMOBILES COLLIDING IN THE WESTBOUND LANES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R-22 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Sep 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Benson, Arizona, United States | Same AS Registered Owner | No injuries | - |
| 23 Sep 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Chico, California, United States | Sierra Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jan 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Dorado | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jan 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Miami, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jan 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Naples, Florida, United States | London Helicoper Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 May 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Bunnell, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-28R-201 | Fort Bragg, California, United States | Sundance Flying Club | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 May 1994 | Schweizer G-164B | Yuba City, California, United States | Sutter Butte Dusters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 3 Sep 1994 | Cessna T210L | Kettleman City, California, United States | Willie Alves Rodrigues | No injuries | - |
| 13 May 1994 | Maule M-5-235C | Columbia, California, United States | White, James L. | No injuries | - |
| 19 May 1994 | Cessna 150L | Rio Linda, California, United States | Hinckley, Thomas, F. | Serious injuries | - |
| 24 Sep 1994 | Corley LANCAIR | Ramona, California, United States | Ronald W. Corley | Fatal | 2 |