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December 1, 1985 · Bell 206L-1 · N3913Z

San Pedro, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 1, 1985
Injury Outcomes
12 injuries (1 fatality, 4 serious injuries, 7 minor injuries)
Location
San Pedro, CA
Aircraft
Bell 206L-1
Tail Number
N3913Z
Operator
Helitrans
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX86MA050

TWO BELL 206'S (N3913Z OPRD BY HELITRANS, N5759Y OPRD BY ISLAND EXPRESS) DEPTD AVALON 2 MIN APART ON FLTS TO SAN PEDRO. ARR ROUTE AT DESTN WAS OVR A RVR WITH ANGLING FNL APCH ARND A FLOATING RESTAURANT (FR). HELIPORT (HP) WAS IN CONGESTED AREA NR BRIDGE, BLDG, BOAT DOCK. EACH PLT MADE REQD RDO CALL ON UNICOM FREQ, 2.5 MI OUT; CHNGD TO 123.30 MHZ BTN RVR MOUTH & HP TO CHK ON FLYING AT ANOTHER OPR'S LOCATION; CHNGD BACK TO UNICOM; EXCEPT PLT OF N5759Y ALSO CHKD IN ON HIS COFREQ. AS 1ST FLT (N3913Z) ARR, BOAT WAS DOCKING; PLT MADE GO-ARND, BUT DIDN'T MAKE RDO CALL. AS N3913Z WAS ON 2ND APCH, N5759Y CONVERGED FM DRCTN OF SETTING SUN IN L TURN ARND FR & ACFT COLLIDED. NEITHER PLT CALLED FNL APCH. N5759Y CRASHED IN WTR; N3913Z HIT EDGE OF HP, ROLLED OVR. PAX IN N5759Y HAD PRBLM EGRESSING; INADEQ BRIEFING BFR FLT. HP OWNER (LA PORTAUTHORITY) DIDN'T PROVIDE RSTRCTNS OF OPRG PERMITS TO OPRS. OPRS DIDN'T ABIDE BY HP OWNER'S 5 MIN SEPN RULE. MIN OVRSGHTBY FAA & CA DEPT OF AERONAUTICS. PLT OF N3913Z LACKED 10 HRS OF REQD TRNG. THE HP WAS CERTIFIED FOR SEAPLANE OPN.

Full Narrative

TWO BELL 206'S (N3913Z OPRD BY HELITRANS, N5759Y OPRD BY ISLAND EXPRESS) DEPTD AVALON 2 MIN APART ON FLTS TO SAN PEDRO. ARR ROUTE AT DESTN WAS OVR A RVR WITH ANGLING FNL APCH ARND A FLOATING RESTAURANT (FR). HELIPORT (HP) WAS IN CONGESTED AREA NR BRIDGE, BLDG, BOAT DOCK. EACH PLT MADE REQD RDO CALL ON UNICOM FREQ, 2.5 MI OUT; CHNGD TO 123.30 MHZ BTN RVR MOUTH & HP TO CHK ON FLYING AT ANOTHER OPR'S LOCATION; CHNGD BACK TO UNICOM; EXCEPT PLT OF N5759Y ALSO CHKD IN ON HIS COFREQ. AS 1ST FLT (N3913Z) ARR, BOAT WAS DOCKING; PLT MADE GO-ARND, BUT DIDN'T MAKE RDO CALL. AS N3913Z WAS ON 2ND APCH, N5759Y CONVERGED FM DRCTN OF SETTING SUN IN L TURN ARND FR & ACFT COLLIDED. NEITHER PLT CALLED FNL APCH. N5759Y CRASHED IN WTR; N3913Z HIT EDGE OF HP, ROLLED OVR. PAX IN N5759Y HAD PRBLM EGRESSING; INADEQ BRIEFING BFR FLT. HP OWNER (LA PORTAUTHORITY) DIDN'T PROVIDE RSTRCTNS OF OPRG PERMITS TO OPRS. OPRS DIDN'T ABIDE BY HP OWNER'S 5 MIN SEPN RULE. MIN OVRSGHTBY FAA & CA DEPT OF AERONAUTICS. PLT OF N3913Z LACKED 10 HRS OF REQD TRNG. THE HP WAS CERTIFIED FOR SEAPLANE OPN.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:38 PST
Nearest AirportSan Pedro Helistop (0nm)
Runway0
Runway Length140 ft
Runway Width90 ft
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 206L-1
Tail NumberN3913Z
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorHelitrans
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C28B · Turboshaft · 435 | Allison · 250-C28B · Turboshaft · 435
Seats7

People & Injuries

Injury Summary12 injuries (1 fatality, 4 serious injuries, 7 minor injuries)
Fatal1
Serious4
Minor7
Uninjured0
Total12
Crew 1Age 28 · First Class
Crew 2Age 43 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind200° @ 7 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 46
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time23:48
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data