Bell 205A-1 accident near Los Angeles, CA
On March 23, 1998, a Bell 205A-1 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Los Angeles, CA. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 23, 1998
- Place
- Los Angeles, CA
- Aircraft
- Bell 205A-1 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 2 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.099°N, 118.319°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X09703
Official records · LAX98GA127
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 23, 1998, about 0740 hours Pacific standard time, a Bell 205A-1, N90230, owned by the City of Los Angeles, California, and operated by the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD), experienced the separation of its tail rotor blades and the 90-degree gearbox during cruise flight. A forced landing was initiated, and during the autorotative descent the helicopter collided with trees approximately 1.5 statute miles northwest of its destination, Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, California. The purpose of the flight was to provide air ambulance transportation for a seriously injured passenger. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the LAFD was monitoring the helicopter's flight progress. The public-use helicopter was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The helicopter was destroyed upon impacting the terrain, and the commercial certificated pilot and one crewmember were seriously injured. Three additional crewmembers and the passenger sustained fatal injuries. The local area flight originated from the Van Nuys Airport, California, about 0722. Upon dispatch, the helicopter flew about 7 miles northeast and landed about 0731 at the Stonehurst Elementary School playground, near the scene of an automobile traffic accident. At this location, the trauma patient (passenger) was loaded into the helicopter. The pilot took off about 0733. Using the air traffic control call sign "Lifeguard Fire Three," the pilot flew in a south-southeasterly direction past the Burbank Airport while climbing and leveling off between 1,900 and 2,100 fee
Probable cause
An excessive bending load applied to the tail rotor blade assembly of an undetermined origin which produced a fatigue crack, the separation of the assembly, and a forced landing. Factors were the lack of suitable terrain to perform a forced landing, the manufacturer's unclear maintenance bulletin instruction and procedures which facilitated the operator's inadequate inspection for the yoke's strai
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
