Cessna P210N Centurion, N34VF, Romag Air Services Inc: Accident occurred January 29, 2018 in Farmington, Pennsylvania

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Romag Air Services Inc: http://registry.faa.gov/N34VF

Location: Farmington, PA
Accident Number: ERA18LA072
Date & Time: 01/29/2018, 1650 EST
Registration: N34VF
Aircraft: CESSNA P210N
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Business 

On January 29, 2018, about 1650 eastern standard time, a Cessna P210N, N34VF, operated by Romag Air Services Inc. was substantially damaged after a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing near Farmington, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot received minor injuries. The flight was operated in accordance with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Montgomery County Airpark (GAI) Gaithersburg, Maryland, about 1600, and was destined for Wheeling Ohio County Airport (HLG), Wheeling, West Virginia.

The pilot reported that while in cruise flight, at 8,000 ft mean sea level (msl), in snowy conditions, shortly after he turned on the pitot heat switch, the airplane suddenly felt "heavy" and the airspeed decreased. He reported that that the engine rpm was indicating zero. The pilot declared an emergency, switched fuel tanks, turned on the fuel pump, and attempted to restart the engine, but engine power could not be restored. In addition, he stated that the propeller did not "budge" and was not wind milling. Air traffic control then provided the pilot with radar vectors to Nemacolin Airport (PA88), Farmington, Pennsylvania, but the pilot stated that he would not be able to reach that airport.

He reported IMC conditions until he broke out of the clouds about 300 ft above ground level in a valley surrounded by hills. He turned the airplane towards a small field and attempted to land, but during final approach, the airplane struck several trees and a power line, shearing off part of the left wing before the airplane struck the ground and skidded to a stop. The airplane came to rest upright. The fuel tanks were breached during the collision, which resulted in a fire that enveloped the airplane as the pilot evacuated.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the airplane was equipped with a single-engine, was manufactured in 1979, and incorporated retractable tricycle landing gear. It was equipped with a Continental Motors Inc, TSIO-520, 325 hp engine. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated 4,268 airframe total hours and the engine had accumulated 750 total hours since overhaul. The airplane had flown for 21 hours since its most recent annual inspection that was completed on November 17, 2017.

According to the FAA and pilot records, the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. His reported total flight time was 5,840 total hours, with 4,620 hours in the accident airplane make and model. In the last 90 days, he flew 42 hours. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: CESSNA
Registration: N34VF
Model/Series: P210N N
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: ROMAG AIR SERVICES INC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Instrument Conditions
Condition of Light: Dusk
Observation Facility, Elevation: K2G4, 2933 ft msl
Observation Time: 2135 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 15 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 1°C / -4°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 6000 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 4 knots, 190°
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast
Visibility:  1 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.98 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point: GAITHERSBURG, MD (GAI)
Destination: WHEELING, WV (HLG)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 39.791944, -79.478611 (est)

Dr. Csaba L. Magassy, MD FACS

Plastic Surgeon  

Mclean, Virginia

STEWART TOWNSHIP, Pa. —   A plane crashed in the 600 block of Kentuck Road near Kentuck Knob in Stewart Township, Fayette County, on Monday evening, emergency officials confirmed.

Officials said the pilot was the only one aboard the plane. They said he was having engine trouble and put in an early mayday call.

The air traffic controller guided him to an empty field, where he crash-landed and hit a power line. The plane caught fire, but he escaped. He suffered a leg injury and was taken to a local hospital, officials said.

The pilot was 79-year-old Dr. Csaba Magassy.

Magassy spoke with Pittsburgh's Action News 4 reporter Beau Berman from his hospital room and said he is a plastic surgeon based in Virginia. He said he was flying from Maryland's Montgomery County airport to Wheeling, West Virginia, for a post-operative procedure for one of his patients.

Magassy sustained a cut to his left knee that required stitches. Doctors gave him IV fluids and performed a CAT scan on his chest as a precaution.

Magassy walked Berman through the crash landing.

“I was flying at 8,000 feet, middle of a snowstorm, and I was talking to Johnstown approach, when suddenly my engine quit. When I broke out from the snow I was about… between 800 to 1000 ft ... between two mountain peaks. So I quickly lowered the gear and picked the point between two trees and sheared the wings off and decelerated and came to a stop on the other side which was in a clearing. I quickly unbuckled myself and got out the door and then… poof…. The whole airplane blew up," said Magassy.

Magassy said state police arrived soon after and he was transported to Uniontown Hospital.

He told Berman he had logged more than 6,000 miles flying in his lifetime and first flew for the Air Force in 1961.

Magassy said he was born in Hungary before coming to the United States in the 1950s.

He told Berman that his fiancee and children called him at the hospital to ask if he was all right.

“Glad to be alive," he said.

The FAA sent WTAE TV the following information about the crash.

"A Cessna C210 aircraft reportedly had an engine-related problem and made a forced landing in a field near Farmington, PA at about 4:50 p.m. today. The aircraft departed Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport/Shepherd Field in Martinsburg for Wheeling Ohio County Airport in Wheeling. The FAA will investigate and the National Transportation Safety Board will determine the probable cause of the accident," said spokesman, Jim Peters.


Story and video:  http://www.wtae.com

A pilot escaped his small plane before it caught fire after he made a crash landing in a field along Kentuck Road in Ohiopyle Monday evening.

He was taken to a local hospital by ambulance for a minor injury to his leg, according to State Police Trooper Robert Broadwater. The pilot, whose name has not been released, was the only person on the plane.

Broadwater said the pilot was experiencing engine trouble and called the Federal Aviation Administration for assistance. They directed him toward the field and assisted him in the landing just after 5 p.m.

Police did not have information on the type of plane, where the plane took off or where it was headed. The FAA is investigating.

Story, video and photo  ➤ https://www.heraldstandard.com

STEWART TOWNSHIP, Pa. - A small plane crashed near Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County.

Dispatchers confirm the Cessna P210N Centurion went down at 4:48 p.m. in Stewart Township.

The pilot was the only person on the plane and suffered minor injuries.

The Federal Aviation Administration, which is handling the investigation, said the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing after the plane suffered an engine-related problem.

He was headed from Martinsburg to Wheeling in West Virginia, crossing Western Pennsylvania, the FAA said.

Story, video and photo ➤ http://www.wpxi.com

Loss of Control on Ground: Aero Commander 680 F, N900L; accident occurred January 27, 2018 at T.W. Spear Memorial Airport (4AL9), Lapine, Alabama

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Montgomery, Alabama

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms 
 
http://registry.faa.gov/N900L

Location: Lapine, AL
Accident Number: ERA18LA073
Date & Time: 01/27/2018, 1140 CST
Registration: N900L
Aircraft: AERO COMMANDER 680 F
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On January 27, 2018, about 1140 central standard time, an Aero Commander 680F, N900L, was substantially damaged on takeoff from the T.W. Spear Memorial Airport (4AL9), Lapine, Alabama. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight was originating from 4AL9 at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated that he had just recently purchased the airplane and had just completed two takeoffs and landings to a full stop and was taking off on runway 4 for a third time when the accident occurred. The pilot said that as he started to rotate, he lost power on the left engine, and the airplane veered to the left and struck trees damaging both wings and the fuselage. The airplane came to rest in a swamp adjacent to the runway. The pilot said the left engine was not running and he had to shut down the right engine before exiting the airplane.

The previous owner stated that the airplane had not been flown since 2005 or 2006. He had just sold the airplane to the pilot, and a mechanic (hired by the pilot) completed and signed-off on an annual inspection two days before the accident on January 25, 2018. The previous owner told the mechanic that the left engine fuel controller had been malfunctioning and the boost pump had to remain on until the engine warmed-up. He believed that controller needed to be overhauled or replaced. A review of the maintenance logbooks found no entry regarding the inspection or flush of the airplane's fuel system. However, there was an entry in both the left and right engine logbooks that stated, "checked fuel injector and inspected fuel system" but no fuel components were replaced.

Both the mechanic and the pilot said they ran the engines after the annual inspection and did several high-speed taxi checks and all was normal. The pilot also said he flew the airplane for 30 minutes the day before the accident with no discrepancies noted.

At the time of the annual inspection, the airframe had 3,562.5 total flight hours, the left engine had 42.2 hours, and the right engine had 466.7 hours. According to the airplane's hour meter, when the accident occurred, the airplane had accrued .2 hours (about 10-15 minutes) since the annual inspection.

The mechanic stated that he purchased 100LL fuel at a nearby airport and placed about 100 gallons in the airplane's center tank and about 5 gallons in the auxiliary tanks to make sure they weren't leaking. The previous owner said he observed the mechanic sump "a great deal of fuel" prior to the flight. According to the company that recovered the airplane, about 135 gallons of 100LL blue aviation fuel was recovered from the center tank. The fuel was absent of debris and water.

In a postaccident examination, the left engine crankshaft was rotated via manual rotation of the propeller and valve train and compression were established on each cylinder. The right magneto sparked at all ignition leads. The left magneto was removed and the leads were cut at each terminal. A power drill was used to spin the magneto and spark was observed at each terminal. The spark plugs were removed and were gray in color and exhibited normal wear as per the Champion Check-A-Plug chart. No mechanical deficiencies were observed that would have precluded normal operation of the engine at the time of the accident.

The fuel selectors for both engines were found in the "center" tank position. Examination of the electric boost pump revealed it and the area around the pump was dirty and littered with mud-daubers. When power was applied to the pump, it did not operate. The main fuel line from the electric boost pump to the fuel controller was disassembled and shop air was blown thru the line. Fuel from the line was captured in a mason jar and was a yellowish color. The fuel smelled like auto-gas and small bubbles of water were observed. The fuel strainer that was installed between the electric boost pump and the fuel controller was removed. The screen was absent of debris. A plastic syringe was used to drain the fuel from the strainer-bowl. The fuel was black in appearance and smelled like auto gas.

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine and multiengine land, and instrument airplane. He also held a flight instructor certificate and had a type-rating for a Douglas DC-3 airplane. The pilot's last Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third-class medical was issued on January 20, 2017. At that time, he reported a total of 3,000 flight hours. The pilot told an FAA inspector that he had accumulated about 15-20 hours in an Aero Commander, but that was about 25 years prior to the accident.

According to the airplane's flight manual emergency procedures section, the procedure for an engine failure on takeoff at speeds over 105 MPH (91 knots) is:

A. Push prop controls FULL FORWARD.

B. Throttles 48" Hg.

C. Landing gear UP

D. Flaps UP slowly

E. Maintain heading and airspeed (105 - 115 MPH desired) (91-100 knots).

F. Fully determine inoperative engine.

G Feather prop on inoperative engine.

H. Close mixture on inoperative engine.

I. Reduce power on operating engine to rated HP (320) 45" - 3200 RPM

J. Ignition switch Off, Fuel Off, Generator Off on inoperative engine

K. Booster pump ON

L. Trim aircraft as required.

The pilot said that he did not use a checklist during the flight and that a checklist was not provided with the airplane when he purchased it.

Weather at the Mac Crenshaw Memorial Airport (PRN), Greenville, Alabama, about 21 miles north, at 1156, was reported as wind from 110° at 11 knots, visibility 10 miles, overcast clouds at 10,000 ft, temperature 16°, dewpoint 11°, altimeter setting 30.34 inches of mercury.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 70, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine; Instrument Airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 01/30/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 01/31/2017
Flight Time: 3000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 20 hours (Total, this make and model) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: AERO COMMANDER
Registration: N900L
Model/Series: 680 F F
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 680F-1341-136
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 6
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 01/25/2018, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 8093 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 2 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3562.7 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: IGSO-540B1A
Registered Owner: Arkansas Round Engine
Rated Power:380 
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PRN, 451 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 21 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1156 CST
Direction from Accident Site: 360°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 10000 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 11 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 110°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.34 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 16°C / 11°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Lapine, AL (4AL9)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Destination: Lapine, AL (4AL9)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1140 CST
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: T W SPEAR MEMORIAL (4AL9)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 438 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 04
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 2909 ft / 30 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:  31.000000, -86.000000 (est)

Location: Lapine, AL
Accident Number: ERA18LA073
Date & Time: 01/27/2018, 1140 CST
Registration: N900L
Aircraft: AERO COMMANDER 680 F
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On January 27, 2018, about 1140 central standard time, an Aero Commander 680, N900L, was substantially damaged on takeoff from the T.W. Spear Memorial Airport (4AL9), Lapine, Alabama. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight was originating from 4AL9 at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated that he had just recently purchased the airplane and he had just completed two takeoffs and landings to a full stop to be current to carry passengers for his return flight back to his home airport in Mena, Arkansas. He said he was taking off for a third time when the accident occurred. The pilot said that as he started to rotate, he lost power on the left engine, and the airplane veered to the left and struck trees. The airplane spun 180° to the right and came to rest in a swamp adjacent to the runway. The pilot said the left engine was not running and he had to shut down the right engine before he exited the airplane.

A postaccident examination revealed that both wings and the fuselage sustained substantial damage. According to the company that recovered the airplane, about 135 gallons of fresh, clean fuel was recovered from the center tank. The airplane wreckage has been retained for further examination.

The previous owner stated that the airplane had not been flown since 2005 or 2006. He had just sold the airplane to the pilot, who had a mechanic work on the airplane about a week before the accident. The mechanic installed three new tires and inspected/serviced the airplane for the flight to Mena, Arkansas. The mechanic asked the previous owner to perform a brake and steering check, which the owner did and was normal. The previous owner also told the mechanic that the left engine fuel controller was malfunctioning in that the boost pump had to remain on until the engine warmed-up. He believed that controller needed to be overhauled or replaced.

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine and multiengine land, and instrument airplane. He was also held a flight instructor certificate and had a type-rating for a Douglas DC-3 airplane. The pilot's last Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third-class medical certificate was issued on January 20, 2017. At that time, he reported a total of 3,000 flight hours. The pilot told an FAA inspector that he had accumulated about 15-20 hours in an Aero Commander, but that was about 25 years prior to the accident.

Weather at the Mac Crenshaw Memorial Airport (PRN), Greenville, Alabama, about 21 miles north, at 1156, was reported as wind from 110° at 11 knots, visibility 10 miles, overcast clouds at 10,000 ft, temperature 16°, dewpoint 11°, altimeter setting 30.34 inches of mercury. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: AERO COMMANDER
Registration: N900L
Model/Series: 680 F F
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PRN, 451 ft msl
Observation Time: 1156 CST
Distance from Accident Site: 21 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 16°C / 11°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 11 knots, 110°
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 10000 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.34 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Lapine, AL (4AL9)
Destination: Lapine, AL (4AL9) 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion:  None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:  31.000000, -86.000000 (est)

Cessna T337G Super Skymaster, N3CF: Incident occurred January 28, 2018 at Brown Field Municipal Airport (KSDM), San Diego, California

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Diego

Aircraft gear collapsed on landing.

http://registry.faa.gov/N3CF

Date: 28-JAN-18
Time: 00:49:00Z
Regis#: N3CF
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: T337G
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: SAN DIEGO
State: CALIFORNIA

Canard, N999TH: Incident occurred January 26, 2018 in Lancaster, California

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Van Nuys

Gear collapsed on landing.

http://registry.faa.gov/N999TH

Date: 26-JAN-18
Time: 20:47:00Z
Regis#: N999TH
Aircraft Make: EXPERIMENTAL
Aircraft Model: HOWARD CANARD
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: LANCASTER
State: CALIFORNIA

Beech G33 Bonanza, N9337Q: Incident occurred January 28, 2018 in Costa Mesa, Orange County, California

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Long Beach

Aircraft declared emergency due to engine issue and force landed in a field.

http://registry.faa.gov/N9337Q

Date: 29-JAN-18
Time: 03:45:00Z
Regis#: N9337Q
Aircraft Make: BEECH
Aircraft Model: G33
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: UNKNOWN
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: NONE
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: EMERGENCY DESCENT (EMG)
Operation: 91
City: SANTA ANA
State: CALIFORNIA

A man described as an "experienced pilot" flew under an overpass and made a safe emergency landing on the 55 Freeway in Costa Mesa on Sunday after his plane experienced engine failure.

The incident was reported about 7:50 p.m. according to the Costa Mesa Fire Department.

The occupants were out of the plane and no injuries were reported the fire department tweeted.

The pilot, who only gave his first name, Izzy, and his friend were heading to Van Nuys from San Diego when the "engine quit" on them.

Izzy said he had a choice of flying the Beechcraft bonanza to John Wayne Airport or landing on the beach, but strong winds prevented from getting to the airport.

“I saw an opening on the highway and I went for it right away," Izzy said. "I had to make a last minute, last second judgement on whether or not we could make it over, and we didn’t have the airspeed to make it over, so I went under it."

The plane landed near the northbound exit of Del Mar Avenue near the Orange County Fairgrounds.

Costa Mesa Fire Capt. Chris Coatez said that the call came in as a plane crash at the fairgrounds, but first responders found the plane was intact.

He said it was a "complete miracle" that traffic was light on the freeway when the pilot decided to land there.

Coatez explained that strong winds worked for the pilot and against him, adding that they prevented him from getting all the way to the airport, but helped him land safely on the freeway.

Videos from the scene showed the plane on the right side of the highway with no visible damage.

Motorists recorded videos of the plane as they passed by it on the highway. Twitter user Dora Noriega tweeted "Plane landed on the 55 North we just missed it!"

Several lanes of the highway were closed as California Highway Patrol officials tried to get the plane off the road, causing a back up.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident, a spokesman told the Los Angeles Times.

Story, video and photos ➤ http://ktla.com

COSTA MESA – A 24-year-old pilot made a split-second decision to fly beneath an overpass before finishing a safe, emergency landing Sunday, Jan. 28, onto the 55 freeway, a California Highway Patrol spokesman said.

The pilot, who has been flying planes since age 15, seemed unfazed after his single-engine Beech 633 rolled to a stop at around 7:35 p.m. onto the northbound 55, said California Highway Patrol Officer Florentino Olivera, who is an agency spokesman.

“I asked him, ‘Were you scared or nervous?’ ” Olivera said on Monday. “He said that he started going through his emergency procedures and didn’t have time to be scared.”

The pilot, whose name was not released by authorities, reported that he and a passenger were en route from San Diego to Van Nuys when the plane suddenly lost power.

The pilot was unable to reach John Wayne Airport, forcing him to fly through the 108-foot-wide, 17-foot-tall opening below the overpass that connects Fair Drive and Del Mar Avenue in Costa Mesa, a mile south of the 73.

“No cars were hit and no one was injured,” Olivera said, adding it was fortunate that traffic on the 55 freeway was light. “It’s a miracle. … He was just coming in with the wind. He had no power.”

Planes landing on Southern California freeways aren’t unheard of. In June 2017, a Cessna crashed onto the I-405 freeway near John Wayne Airport, injuring the husband and wife aboard the plane but no one on the freeway.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating Sunday’s incident.

Story, video and photos ➤ https://www.ocregister.com

Robinson R22 BETA, N127AG, AgroFlite Corp: Accident occurred January 28, 2018 in Homestead, Miami-Dade County, Florida

Additional Participating Entity
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office;  Miramar,  Florida

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N127AG

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Location: Homestead, FL
Accident Number: GAA18CA113
Date & Time: 01/28/2018, 1350 EST
Registration: N127AG
Aircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Other Work Use 

The pilot reported that, while maneuvering at a low altitude over a field, he looked down at his phone in the cockpit, and by the time he looked back outside, the left skid of the helicopter had struck the ground. Subsequently, the helicopter rolled onto its left side.

The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom and rotor systems.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. 

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's diverted attention to his phone while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in collision with terrain. 

Findings

Aircraft
Altitude - Not attained/maintained (Cause)

Personnel issues
Attention - Pilot (Cause)
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)
Task monitoring/vigilance - Pilot

Factual Information

History of Flight

Maneuvering-low-alt flying
Miscellaneous/other
Loss of control in flight (Defining event)
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Landing
Roll over

Pilot Information

Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 28, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane; Helicopter
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Helicopter
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 03/11/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 02/22/2016
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 781 hours (Total, all aircraft), 184 hours (Total, this make and model), 574 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 57 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 55 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: ROBINSON HELICOPTER
Registration: N127AG
Model/Series: R22 Beta
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture: 1988
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 0814
Landing Gear Type: Skid;
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 01/19/2018, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1370 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3058.3 Hours
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: O-320-B2C
Registered Owner: AGROFLITE CORP
Rated Power: 160 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KHST, 7 ft msl
Observation Time: 1856 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 310°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C / 22°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 14 knots/ 21 knots, 120°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.05 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Homestead, FL
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Homestead, FL
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 1325 EST
Type of Airspace: Class D

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 25.476111, -80.373889 (est)

United Airlines, Airbus A320-200, N414UA: Incident occurred January 26, 2018 at O'Hare International Airport (KORD), Chicago, Illinois

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Chicago

Flight 4214:  Rejected departure of runway, veered sharply and struck taxiway lights.

http://registry.faa.gov/N414UA

Date: 26-JAN-18
Time: 20:23:00Z
Regis#: UNKNOWN
Aircraft Make: AIRBUS
Aircraft Model: A320
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: UNKNOWN
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: COMMERCIAL
Flight Phase: TAKEOFF (TOF)
Operation: 121
Aircraft Operator: UNITED AIRLINES
Flight Number: 4214
City: CHICAGO
State: ILLINOIS

Bellanca 7GCBC, N5053L: Incidents occurred January 26, 2018 and January 21, 2017 at Louisville International Airport (KLOU), Jefferson County, Kentucky

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Louisville

Aircraft veered off the runway into a ditch on landing.

Louisville Aircraft Leasing LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N5053L

Date: 26-JAN-18
Time: 19:40:00Z
Regis#: N5053L
Aircraft Make: BELLANCA
Aircraft Model: 7GCBC
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: LOUISVILLE
State: KENTUCKY

Aircraft on landing, wheel separated from gear.

Date: 21-JAN-17
Time: 18:33:00Z
Regis#: N5053L
Aircraft Make: BELLANCA
Aircraft Model: 7GCBC
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
City: LOUISVILLE
State: KENTUCKY

Gulfstream G-V, N727PR, Corporate Wings LLC -and- Beech King Air 90, N727PR, New ULM C90 LLC: Incident occurred January 26, 2018 at Flying Cloud Airport (KFCM), Eden Prairie, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Minneapolis

While taxiing out to the runway, aircraft struck the wing of N139SC.

Corporate Wings LLC:  http://registry.faa.gov/N727PR

Date: 26-JAN-18
Time: 21:15:00Z
Regis#: N727PR
Aircraft Make: GULFSTREAM
Aircraft Model: G V
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: TAXI (TXI)
Operation: 91
City: MINNEAPOLIS
State: MINNESOTA

While parked aircraft wing was struck by taxiing N727PR

New ULM C90 LLC:  http://registry.faa.gov/N139SC

Date: 26-JAN-18
Time: 21:15:00Z
Regis#: N727PR
Aircraft Make: BEECH
Aircraft Model: C90
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: STANDING (STD)
Operation: 91
City: MINNEAPOLIS
State: MINNESOTA