Bell 206-L1 accident near Johnsondale, CA
On August 30, 1995, a Bell 206-L1 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Johnsondale, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 30, 1995
- Place
- Johnsondale, CA
- Aircraft
- Bell 206-L1 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.731°N, 118.391°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X04274
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 29, 1995, at 1720 hours Pacific daylight time, a Bell 206-L1, N3886J, collided with wires and subsequently crashed while maneuvering near Johnsondale, California. The aircraft was destroyed and the commercial pilot and his passenger received fatal injuries. The aircraft was being operated as an aerial motion picture platform by CineFlight, Inc., when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Kernville, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. Witnesses located in the Limestone campground area in the Sequoia National Forest reported seeing the aircraft flying along the Kern river adjacent to the campground. They observed the helicopter flying downstream at an altitude of 200 feet agl, reversing course, and then flying back upstream. Over the next 10 minutes, the pilot made two additional passes over the river. Several witnesses noted that a person onboard the aircraft, wearing a red hat and a blue jacket, waved to them as the he flew by. The Tulare County Sheriff's Coroner-Investigator later confirmed that the pilot was wearing a blue jacket. The aircraft was observed by witnesses to be at an altitude between 50 and 100 feet above the river during the third pass when it appeared to strike electrical transmission lines at approximately an 80-degree angle. After striking the lines, the aircraft continued in an easterly direction, started shaking very badly, and spun around several times. Witnesses also stated that the wires were difficult to see because of foliage on the canyon walls. The
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate obstacle clearance altitude while operating at a very low level. The aircraft's lack of wire cutters was a factor in this accident.
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Browse: California · Bell aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
