Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near Los Angeles, California, January 26, 2008
On January 26, 2008 at about 6:57 am local time, a Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, registered N705JJ, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Los Angeles, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate obstacle clearance altitude from transmission wires during cruise flight. Contributing to the accident was the dark night conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 26, 2008 · about 6:57 am local time
- Place
- Los Angeles, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N705JJ · no longer on the register · serial 4180
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the night flight, the pilot was cleared through Class Bravo airspace and he queried the controller if there was an altitude restriction on his route. The controller stated that he must remain at or below 500 feet and that a frequency change was approved upon reaching a local geographical reporting point (Century Boulevard). A review of radar data disclosed that the helicopter followed an interstate southbound toward the destination airport. The radar data further showed that about 3 minutes prior to the last target, the helicopter's altitude varied between 200 and 400 feet mean sea level (msl). The last target was observed at a mode C reported altitude of 400 feet msl (about 250 feet above ground level), and located adjacent to Century Boulevard. Several witnesses reported observing the helicopter flying low southbound along the interstate. They then recalled seeing a bright spark as the helicopter collided with a high voltage transmission line, followed by the helicopter impacting the asphalt. The main wreckage, consisting of the fuselage and engine, came to rest in the far left lane of the seven-lane southbound side of the interstate. The wreckage was located almost immediately above Century Boulevard, which extended perpendicular (and under) the interstate. Power lines were located adjacent to the wreckage with two major steel support tower structures on either side of the interstate. Neither the towers nor the wires had obstruction markings or lights, nor were they required to have any. The wires were oriented east-west and the highest wires measured about 120 feet in height; the most southern static wire contained a 6- to 8-inch abrasion in the galvanized steel, consistent with the helicopter's skid making contact. There was no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure found during the postaccident examination.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Awareness of condition
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on personnel
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 54 hours in all; 54 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 17, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 420 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 20, 2008; 15.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Jj Helicopters, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: EMT El Monte CA at 6:40 am
- Destination: TOA Torrance CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 am from HHR, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.