Robinson R22 Helicopter Crash in California
NTSB Accident Report # LAX08FA052
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, January 25, 2008 in Los Angeles, CA
Aircraft: Robinson R22, registration: N705JJ
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
On January 25, 2008, about 2255 Pacific standard time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R22, N705JJ, was destroyed after impacting the southbound lanes of the Harbor Freeway Interstate 110 (I-110) in Los Angeles, California. JJ Helicopters, Inc., was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was killed. The personal night cross-country flight originated from El Monte, California, and was destined for the operator’s base at Zamperini Field in Torrance, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed.
A National Transportation Safety Board investigator reviewed voice recordings between the pilot and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Air Traffic Control personnel. The tape recordings revealed that the pilot made the initial contact at a self-reported position of the I-110 and Staples Center. He requested a southbound transition over the I-110 and a controller immediately cleared the helicopter through the LAX class bravo airspace. The pilot queried if there was an altitude restriction on his route, to which the controller replied, “Affirmative, at or below 500 feet and at Century [Blvd.] frequency change approved.” The pilot read back the altitude restriction.
A Safety Board investigator interviewed several witnesses following the accident. The witnesses recalled observing a small helicopter ahead of them while driving their automobiles south-bound on the I-110 in Los Angeles. One witness reported that the helicopter was flying unusually low, operating not much higher than a typical freeway overpass. He then observed a bright spark above in contrast to the very dark sky, which he characterized as similar to a sparking firework. The helicopter then dove toward the freeway impacting the asphalt directly in front of him.
Another witness recalled that the helicopter was flying very low over the far right lane. As she continued down the freeway, she observed the helicopter gradually cross over lanes toward the center divider, moving laterally with the nose pointed in the same southerly direction. The helicopter maintained the course over the center divider and a carpool lane [far left lane] for about 10 to 15 seconds. She then observed a bright streak or spark in the air; the helicopter appeared to explode and crash onto the freeway directly in front of her automobile.
An additional witness, a police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department, reported that he observed a helicopter flying low, just above tree-top height. He noted that it was moving very fast and concluded that it was most likely a law enforcement helicopter responding to a “hot” call. The helicopter gradually moved from the west edge of the traffic lanes toward the center divider, while still moving fast toward the south. He then witnessed the helicopter impact the middle area of the freeway and slide toward the center divider erupting into flames.
During an interview with the pilot’s certificated flight instructor (CFI), he stated that the pilot began his flight training in mid October, and obtained his private pilot license on November 01, 2007. The night of the accident, the CFI was scheduled to fly with the pilot roundtrip from Torrance to El Monte. Upon arrival at the operator’s facilities, the pilot seemed down and indicated that he wanted to perform a solo flight that night. The CFI explicitly conveyed to the pilot that if he chose to utilize the I-110 transition to fly to El Monte, he would have to be cautious due to the LAX air traffic landing to the east as a result of the wind direction.
The CFI further stated that at 2014 (about an hour after the pilot departed), the pilot called him on his cellular telephone stating that he was in El Monte and having problems with his new noise-cancellation headsets. The CFI detailed a few procedures to troubleshoot the problem and the pilot indicated that he was going back to Torrance shortly.
The helicopter main wreckage, consisting of the fuselage and engine, came to rest in the far left lane of the seven lane interstate. The wreckage was located almost immediately above Century Blvd., which extends perpendicular to the interstate. Power lines were located adjacent to the wreckage with two major support structures (transmission towers) on either side of the interstate. The wires were oriented east-west and the highest wires consisted of two static lines both on the same horizontal plane. A City of Los Angeles Water and Power superintendent reported that the static wires measured about 120 feet in height. The superintendent additionally stated that an examination of the wires crossing the interstate, revealed that the southern most static wire contained a 6 to 8 inch abrasion in the galvanized steel.
The helicopter wreckage was retained for further examination.
