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NTSB Report

October 24, 1990 · Mcdonnell Douglas 369E · N451DS

Compton, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 24, 1990
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Compton, CA
Aircraft
Mcdonnell Douglas 369E
Tail Number
N451DS
Operator
Los Angeles Sheriff Dept
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX91GA016

TWO HELICOPTERS WERE BEING USED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES. ONE WAS A LOS ANGELES SHERIFF'S DEPT (LASD) MCDONNELL- DOUGLAS 369E, N451DS, CALL SIGN AIR 21. THE OTR WAS A COMPTON POLICE DEPT (CPD) ENSTROM F-28F, N48HR, CALL SIGN AIR 28. WHILE IN THE LAX TCA, AIR 21 RESPONDED TO AN EMERG CALL. AFTER DEPG THE TCA, THE PLT (AIR 21) SWITCHED HIS COM RADIO TO 123.02 MHZ (COMMON FREQ FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE AREA) & ANNOUNCED HIS PSN. WHEN NO RESPONSE WAS RCVD, HE SWITCHED TO THE COMPTON UNICOM FREQ (122.9 MHZ). AT ABOUT THAT TIME, AIR 28 WAS ORBITING IN THE SAME VCNTY. THE PLT OF AIR 28 SAID HE HAD ANNOUNCED HIS PSN ON 122.9 MHZ (RQRD FREQ IN THE AREA FOR CPD ACFT) & WAS MONITORING 123.02 MHZ. THE 2 CONVERGED & COLLIDED, BUT BOTH REMAINED CONTROLLABLE & WERE LNDD FROM EMERG APCHS. BFR THE MIDAIR, THE PLT OF AIR 21 WAS HELPING HIS OBSERVER LOOK FOR A PSN ON A MAP. HE SAW AIR 28 JUST BFR IMPACT, BUT NOT IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE PLT OF AIR 28 HAD HIS TRANSPONDER ON STANDBY, ALTHO HE WAS REQD TO BE OPERG IT, WHILE WITHIN 30 MI OF THE (GROUP 1) TCA.

NTSB Probable Cause

INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT, WHICH RESULTED IN A FAILURE OF EACH TO SEE-AND-AVOID CONFLICTING TRAFFIC. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF AIR 28 (N48HR) TO USE HIS TRANSPONDER NEAR THE TCA, AND THE PILOT OF AIR 21 DIVERTED TOO MUCH OF HIS ATTENTION TO A MAP.

Full Narrative

TWO HELICOPTERS WERE BEING USED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES. ONE WAS A LOS ANGELES SHERIFF'S DEPT (LASD) MCDONNELL- DOUGLAS 369E, N451DS, CALL SIGN AIR 21. THE OTR WAS A COMPTON POLICE DEPT (CPD) ENSTROM F-28F, N48HR, CALL SIGN AIR 28. WHILE IN THE LAX TCA, AIR 21 RESPONDED TO AN EMERG CALL. AFTER DEPG THE TCA, THE PLT (AIR 21) SWITCHED HIS COM RADIO TO 123.02 MHZ (COMMON FREQ FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE AREA) & ANNOUNCED HIS PSN. WHEN NO RESPONSE WAS RCVD, HE SWITCHED TO THE COMPTON UNICOM FREQ (122.9 MHZ). AT ABOUT THAT TIME, AIR 28 WAS ORBITING IN THE SAME VCNTY. THE PLT OF AIR 28 SAID HE HAD ANNOUNCED HIS PSN ON 122.9 MHZ (RQRD FREQ IN THE AREA FOR CPD ACFT) & WAS MONITORING 123.02 MHZ. THE 2 CONVERGED & COLLIDED, BUT BOTH REMAINED CONTROLLABLE & WERE LNDD FROM EMERG APCHS. BFR THE MIDAIR, THE PLT OF AIR 21 WAS HELPING HIS OBSERVER LOOK FOR A PSN ON A MAP. HE SAW AIR 28 JUST BFR IMPACT, BUT NOT IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE PLT OF AIR 28 HAD HIS TRANSPONDER ON STANDBY, ALTHO HE WAS REQD TO BE OPERG IT, WHILE WITHIN 30 MI OF THE (GROUP 1) TCA.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:46 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMcdonnell Douglas 369E
Tail NumberN451DS
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorLos Angeles Sheriff Dept
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20B · Turboshaft · 420 | Lycoming · HIO-360-F1AD · Reciprocating · 225
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 43 · Second Class
Crew 2Age 35 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightBright Night
Wind250° @ 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data