NTSB CAROL · Event
Event LAX07CA229
Registry · N147SH
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
CESSNA 185D
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A0BE49
Registrant of record
DE CAMARA ROBERT MICHAEL
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The student pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm resulting in an excessive descent rate and a hard landing. Factors in the accident were the student's failure to relinquish the controls, and the CFI's inadequate supervision.
Factual narrative
The flight instructor reported that during their fifth practice autorotation, the student let the rotor rpm decay to the point that the CFI attempted to intercede and perform a run on landing. The student and CFI both struggled with each other on the controls until the helicopter hit the ground hard. During the impact sequence, the helicopter spun around, and ultimately came to rest on the left side. The flight instructor reported that during their fifth practice autorotation, the student let the rotor rpm decay to the point that the certified flight instructor (CFI) attempted to intercede and perform a run on landing. The student and CFI both struggled with each other on the controls until the helicopter hit the ground hard. During the impact sequence, the helicopter spun around, and ultimately came to rest on the left side. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2007_LAX07CA229.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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