NTSB CAROL · Event
Event LAX86LA344
Aircraft involved
Factual narrative
THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED PALOMAR AIRPORT (CRQ), CARLSBAD, CA, ON A LOCAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT AND WAS THE SECOND FLIGHT FOR THE DUAL STUDENT. AFTER COMPLETING THE FLIGHT LESSON THE STUDENT ASKED THE CFI TO DEMONSTRATE HOVERING. THE CFI INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION WITH A POWER-ON RECOVERY OVER BATIQUITOS LAGOON, A HIGH, BRUSH COVERED MARSHY SWAMP AREA. AFTER RECOVERING FROM THE AUTOROTATION THE INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED FORWARD FLIGHT AND THE SKIDS CONTACTED THE HIGH BRUSH. THE HELICOPTER PITCHED DOWNWARD AND AFT CYCLIC CONTROL COULD NOT ARREST THE DOWNWARD MOMENT. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE GROUND. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1986_LAX86LA344.txt.
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