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LAX91LA305

1991-07-11 · SAN JOSE, California, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO UNLOCK THE CYCLIC TRIM AND TO MAINTAIN HIS HOVER ALTITUDE. HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE WITH THE AIRCRAFT, INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT, AND THE UNCONTROLLED DESCENT WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

Factual narrative

DURING HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO UNLOCK THE HELICOPTER'S CYCLIC TRIM CONTROL. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF IT HOVERED TO THE RIGHT, DESCENDED AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN AND ROLLED OVER. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_LAX91LA305.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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