Robinson R44 accident near El Monte, California, July 31, 1993
On July 31, 1993 at about 8:49 pm local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered N445RH, was destroyed in an accident near El Monte, California (El Monte airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE CYCLIC CONTROL (STICK) ASSEMBLY, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF CYCLIC (PITCH & ROLL) CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1993 · about 8:49 pm local time
- Place
- El Monte, California · El Monte
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N445RH · no longer on the register · serial 005
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS DEPARTED IN THE HELICOPTER FROM THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 19. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 50 KNOTS AND CLIMBED TO BETWEEN 50 AND 100 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY. THEY SAID IT THEN SUDDENLY PITCHED DOWN, ROLLED TO THE RIGHT, AND CRASHED ON THE RUNWAY. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED THAT IT HAD IMPACTED IN ABOUT A 35 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND A 30 DEGREE RIGHT BANK. THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT AND POST IMPACT FIRE; MANY OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM COMPONENTS WERE FOUND FRACTURED AND/OR FIRE DAMAGED. THIS INCLUDED A FRACTURE AT THE LOWER END OF THE CYCLIC CONTROL (STICK) ASSEMBLY. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THIS FRACTURE REVEALED EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE. THE HELICOPTER, WHICH HAD BEEN CERTIFICATED IN DECEMBER 1992, HAD ACCUMULATED 174 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME SINCE BEING MANUFACTURED.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 640 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 585 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 174 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 21, 1993; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: EMT at 8:49 pm
- Destination: EMT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,995 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:49 pm from EMT, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.