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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

May 13, 1990 · Bell 206B · N75SH

Carmel Valley, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 13, 1990
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 minor injury)
Location
Carmel Valley, CA
Aircraft
Bell 206B
Tail Number
N75SH
Operator
Hendricks Sidney J
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX90FA170

The pilot took off from a clear area in front of a private residence, and headed toward a valley. The helicopter accelerated in ground effect for about 370 feet utilizing an airspeed over altitude departure profile. It then flew directly into and severed two distribution power lines which were located about four feet above the elevation of the takeoff area. (The power poles were located at lower elevation terrain.) The main rotor blade tip, chin bubble and the tail rotor drive shaft were broken during the collision, and the pilot lost control. The helicopter veered 90 degrees to the right and crashed about one-quarter of a mile from the lines. The poles which supported the lines were located behind trees and were not visible from the takeoff area. Earlier in the day the pilot had made two local flights over the same area and the poles/lines were not noted, according to the pilot. The helicopter was not equipped with optional wire cutters.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND IMPROPER CLIMB.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM A CLEAR AREA IN FRONT OF A PRIVATE RESIDENCE, AND HEADED TOWARD A VALLEY. THE HELICOPTER ACCELERATED IN GROUND EFFECT FOR ABOUT 370 FEET UTILIZING AN AIRSPEED OVER ALTITUDE DEPARTURE PROFILE. IT THEN FLEW DIRECTLY INTO AND SEVERED TWO DISTRIBUTION POWER LINES WHICH WERE LOCATED ABOUT FOUR FEET ABOVE THE ELEVATION OF THE TAKEOFF AREA. (THE POWER POLES WERE LOCATED AT LOWER ELEVATION TERRAIN.) THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE TIP, CHIN BUBBLE AND THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT WERE BROKEN DURING THE COLLISION, AND THE PILOT LOST CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER VEERED 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED ABOUT ONE- QUARTER OF A MILE FROM THE LINES. THE POLES WHICH SUPPORTED THE LINES WERE LOCATED BEHIND TREES AND WERE NOT VISIBLE FROM THE TAKEOFF AREA. EARLIER IN THE DAY THE PILOT HAD MADE TWO LOCAL FLIGHTS OVER THE SAME AREA AND THE POLES/LINES WERE NOT NOTED, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL WIRE CUTTERS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:10 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 206B
Tail NumberN75SH
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorHendricks Sidney J
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20B · Turboshaft · 370
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 minor injury)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 58 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 7 kt
Visibility40 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time00:46
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data