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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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November 19, 1987 · Bell 206L-3 · N66WL

Rialto, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 19, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Rialto, CA
Aircraft
Bell 206L-3
Tail Number
N66WL
Operator
William Lyon
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX88FA033

The pilot lost control of the recently painted helicopter during the takeoff. The paint shop personnel had moved the helo to an airplane parking spot. The helo skids straddled the tie-down chains. Two wing tie-down chains were incorrectly attached to the right landing gear skid. One witness indicated that he walked around the helo examining the new paint before the arrival of the pilot and passengers. He stated that he did not notice any tie-down chains on the aircraft. The pilot did not notice the tie-down chains during the preflight check and did not remove them. The chains were attached without tension. As the helo came to a hover, the slack was taken up. With the right skid tube tethered, the helo rolled right allowing the main rotor blades to strike the ground. AC 20-35C states, 'Fasten the tie-down ropes to the fuselage mooring points and extend them to the ground mooring anchors'. The chains were dark brown in color and did not clearly contrast with the asphalt surface.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE RECENTLY PAINTED HELICOPTER DURING THE TAKEOFF. THE PAINT SHOP PERSONNEL HAD MOVED THE HELO TO A AIRPLANE PARKING SPOT. THE HELO SKIDS STRADDLED THE TIE-DOWN CHAINS. TWO WING TIE-DOWN CHAINS WERE INCORRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR SKID. ONE WITNESS INDICATED THAT HE WALKED AROUND THE HELO EXAMINING THE NEW PAINT BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE PLT AND PAX. HE STATED THAT HE DID NOT NOTICE ANY TIE-DOWN CHAINS ON THE ACFT. THE PLT DID NOT NOTICE THE TIE-DOWN CHAINS DURING THE PREFLIGHT CHECK AND DID NOT REMOVE THEM. THE CHAINS WERE ATTACHED WITHOUT TENSION. AS THE HELO CAME TO A HOVER, THE SLACK WAS TAKEN UP. WITH THE RIGHT SKID TUBE TETHERED, THE HELO ROLLED RIGHT ALLOWING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO STRIKE THE GROUND. AC 20-35C STATES, 'FASTEN THE TIE-DOWN ROPES TO THE FUSELAGE MOORING POINTS AND EXTEND THEM TO THE GROUND MOORING ANCHORS'. THE CHAINS WERE DARK BROWN IN COLOR AND DID NOT CLEARLY CONTRAST WITH THE ASPHALT SURFACE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:45 PST
Nearest AirportMiro Field (0nm N)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 206L-3
Tail NumberN66WL
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorWilliam Lyon
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C30 · Turboshaft · 435
Seats7

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 28 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind260° @ 10 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point30 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time23:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data