Plane Crash Reports 2003

2003 Plane Crash Report Result

Title: OBINSON R22 BETA II, N206TV, AND A ROBINSON R44, N442RH, COLLIDED

Report Date: 11/19

Plane Crash Problem: On November 6, 2003, at 1528 Pacific standard time, a Robinson R22 Beta II, N206TV, and a Robinson R44, N442RH, collided in midair while in the traffic pattern at Zamperini Field, Torrance, California. Pacific Coast Helicopters was operating the R22 under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Robinson Helicopter Company was operating the R44 under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The solo student pilot in the R22 sustained serious injuries. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the private pilot undergoing instruction (PUI) in the R44 sustained fatal injuries. Both helicopters were destroyed; the R44 was partially consumed by a post crash fire. The R22 departed on a local instructional flight about 1430. The R44 departed on a local instructional flight about 1435. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plans had been filed. The R22 came to rest between runways 29R and 29L; the R44 came to rest on the departure end of runway 29L. The R44 had departed to a practice area for air work. It returned to the airport and was on a touch-and-go landing for runway 29L. The R44 had been using right traffic for runway 29R for practice touch-and-go landings, and then used runway 29L for several landings prior to the accident. The instructor for the solo student had been watching the student during his flight. The student flew the R22 from its parking area between taxiways D and E to a helipad north of runway 29R. The student practiced on the helipad and then completed several touch-and-go landings to the helipad. He requested a return to his parking area. Upon hearing this request, the instructor turned the volume of his radio down and turned to talk to a bystander. Witnesses familiar with the airport reported that there were several procedures for helicopters to return from the helipad to the parking ramp. One method was to hover taxi across the runways to the ramp. In another procedure, the pilot would do a right 270-degree turn and cross midfield at 500 feet. The controller in the air traffic control tower would tell the pilot when to cross the runways. A preliminary review of recorded radio transmissions indicated that the R22 had been cleared to the right downwind. The controller told the pilot of the R22 that he would cross the R22 at midfield as soon as he had a chance. About 20 seconds later, the controller instructed the R22 pilot to turn right. About 30 seconds later, the controller told the R22 pilot that he was cleared to land runway 29R, and the pilot replied, "Roger." A few seconds later, the controller repeated the clearance to land runway 29R, but received no acknowledgement. Witnesses reported that the two helicopters collided about 50 feet in the air over runway 29L. The R22 was transiting across the left runway on an estimated 260-degree course.

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