Robinson R-22B accident near Piru, California, April 15, 1991
On April 15, 1991 at about 5:35 pm local time, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N4030A, was destroyed in an accident near Piru, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
1) THE PILOT FAILING TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT, AND 2) INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH UNMARKED TRANSMISSION WIRES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1991 · about 5:35 pm local time · cases in 1991
- Place
- Piru, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B · all R-22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4030A · registry record · serial 1537
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING A NORMAL TAKEOFF FROM A LOCAL FLIGHT TRAINING AREA AND HAD ATTAINED AN AIRSPEED OF ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR AND AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 75 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. HE STATED THAT HE SAW A SINGLE ENGINE FIXED-WING AIRPLANE ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH HIS HELICOPTER. TO AVOID A COLLISION, HE EXECUTED A HARD DIVE. THE HELICOPTER'S RIGHT SKID MADE CONTACT WITH TRANSMISSION WIRES. THE WIRE CONTACT CAUSED A LOSS OF CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 35 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N4030A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N4030A on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Robinson R22 817 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C 55 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Van Nuys Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,134 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N4030A 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX91LA179.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.