Robinson R22 accident near Ojai, California, September 14, 1992
On September 14, 1992 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N4079S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ojai, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE MAIN ROTOR RPM TO CUSHION THE LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE EXISTING HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1992 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Ojai, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N4079S · no longer on the register · serial 1784
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A ROBINSON R22 LANDED HARD AFTER SUSTAINING A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION TO AN OPEN FIELD. THE PILOT ELECTED TO PRACTICE AN AUTOROTATION WHILE FLYING AT 5000 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL OR ABOUT 800 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS REPORTED TO BE ABOUT 70 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED TO BE IN EXCESS OF 6,500 FEET. AFTER APPLYING THE CARBURETOR HEAT AND LOWERING THE COLLECTIVE, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED AND THE ENGINE CEASED TO RUN. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. THE ENGINE WAS OPERATED NORMALLY THROUGHOUT ITS OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 295 hours in all; 285 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 199 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,072 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 1992; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OXR Oxnard CA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: OXR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.
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.