Hughes 369D accident near Somis, CA
On September 6, 2006, a Hughes 369D (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Somis, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 6, 2006
- Place
- Somis, CA
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.667°N, 119.010°W
- NTSB ID
- 20060916X01352
NTSB summary
On September 6, 2006, at 1355 Pacific daylight time, a Hughes 369D, N812CE, collided with power lines while cruising about 3 miles north-northwest of Somis, California. The helicopter was owned and operated by the Southern California Edison Company (SCEC), Ontario, California, and it was substantially damaged upon impacting the ground. The commercial pilot and the power line inspector, both SCEC employees, were killed. The aerial observation flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Camarillo, California, at 1321. A ground-based witness, who was located north of the accident site, reported observing the helicopter fly into the power lines. The witness did not indicate that the helicopter took any evasive action prior to the collision. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordinator who responded to the accident site, the helicopter came to rest about 200 feet north of the severed power lines. SCEC representatives, who were participating in the Safety Board's investigation, reported that the impacted Edison Company power lines had been suspended from towers that were about 1,763 feet apart and had an east-to-west orientation. The helicopter's impact course appeared nearly perpendicular to the orientation of the power lines. SCEC personnel also reported that the impacted lines were located about 150 feet above ground level. SCEC personnel also reported that the accident occurred during a routine patrol flight
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with wires.
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Browse: California · Hughes 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.
