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LAX86LA344

1986-09-11 · CARLSBAD, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport CRQ

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. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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