Bell 205A-1 accident near El Cajon, California, January 15, 2022
On January 15, 2022 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1974 Bell 205A-1 (helicopter), registered N502HQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Cajon, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 2022 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- El Cajon, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 205A-1, built 1974 · all 205A-1s on the register
- Registration
- N502HQ · no longer on the register · serial 30172
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor stated that he was demonstrating an autorotation to the pilot receiving instruction as part of the company’s flight training program. The flight instructor entered the autorotation at an altitude of about 1,500 to 2,000 ft above ground level and reduced the engine’s power to flight idle during the descent. When the helicopter reached its power recovery altitude, the instructor attempted to increase the engine’s power; however, the engine did not respond. Subsequently, he attempted to recover engine power three times but was unsuccessful. The pilot committed to a touchdown autorotation. On touchdown, the helicopter rocked forward then aft on its skids, and the main rotor blades struck the tailboom, which sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the engine, governor, and fuel control revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. As a result, the reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined from the available evidence for this investigation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Autorotation Hard landing
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, foreign licence, private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,200 hours in all; 2,600 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 8,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 11, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,525 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 124 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 3,401 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 14, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 24,712.8 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 10, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 10,200 lb
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell T-53-17A (turboshaft); 16,542 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSEE El Cajon CA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: KSEE El Cajon CA
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from KSEE, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSEE 150955Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 11/06 A3011 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on August 23, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Powerplants | PDF, 22 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.