A bright orange Robinson R44 helicopter touched down in the driveway of a Los Arboles residence on a Friday afternoon last month, its rotor blades echoing through the neighborhood as the aircraft threaded its way above Rancho Santa Fe’s mature tree canopy before departing minutes later.
Flight records indicate the helicopter left Banning Municipal Airport on May 22 at 3:25 p.m. en route to Temecula. During the flight, the aircraft made a stop at a private residence in the Covenant before continuing to its destination. The aircraft is registered to Spitzer Helicopter LLC of Riverside County.
According to several neighbors, the May 22 landing is the second helicopter landing at the property.
FAA May Allow It. The Covenant May Not.
The landing has raised questions about compliance with Rancho Santa Fe Association regulations. According to Chapter 12 of the Rancho Santa Fe Regulatory Code, adopted to protect property owners and “minimize noise and disruption,” no aircraft landings or takeoffs are permitted on Covenant properties except for emergency operations or special events approved in advance by the Board. The regulation specifically defines aircraft to include helicopters. (RSFA Regulatory Code §§12.0201, 12.0302, 12.0303.)
Federal Aviation Administration regulations differ from private Covenant restrictions. Helicopters generally enjoy greater flexibility than fixed-wing aircraft and may land on private property as long as it doesn’t create a hazard to persons or property.
When Things Go Wrong
Helicopter accidents are rare, but when they occur in residential areas the consequences can be significant. In January 2018, a Robinson R44 helicopter leased by Spitzer Helicopter – the same leasing company – crashed into a Newport Beach home, killing the three people aboard and igniting a fire that damaged the residence.
Investigators did not attribute the accident to Spitzer Helicopter. However, the crash is a reminder that flying aircraft near homes place passenges and residents in the risk zone of an accident. In Rancho Santa Fe, where homes are often surrounded by tall eucalyptus trees, utility lines and rolling terrain, the margin for error is small when aircraft fly at low altitudes.
A Test of the Covenant
The RSFA’s Protective Covenant (PC) emphasizes the preservation of the community’s rural character, quiet enjoyment, and protection of neighboring properties, which is why the regulations restrict aircraft operations within the Covenant.
Because enforcement matters are generally confidential, residents may never know what response, if any, followed the May 22 incident. But with neighbors reporting a previous helicopter landing at the same property, the discussion has shifted from a single event to a broader question of whether the Covenant’s aircraft restrictions are being meaningfully enforced.