Aerospatiale AS350BA accident near Doyle, CA
On November 14, 2009, an Aerospatiale AS350BA (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Doyle, CA. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- November 14, 2009
- Place
- Doyle, CA
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350BA · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 39.851°N, 120.350°W
- NTSB ID
- 20091114X82100
Official records · WPR10FA055
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 14, 2009, about 0201 Pacific standard time, an Aerospatiale AS350BA, N5793P, collided with terrain near Doyle, California. Mountain Lifeflight was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot and two passengers sustained fatal injuries; the helicopter was substantially damaged by impact forces and post-crash fire. The cross-country positioning flight departed Reno, Nevada, about 0143 with a planned destination of Susanville, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan had been filed. The helicopter departed its home base at Susanville Airport at 0016, and picked up a patient at Banner Hospital in Susanville. It departed Susanville at 0038, and arrived at Renown Hospital in Reno at 0111. It departed Renown Hospital at 0143, and the medical crew made position reports every 10 minutes to its dispatch center in Susanville. At 0153, they reported Hallelujah Junction; Susanville was 43 miles at 311 degrees, and the accident site was 5 miles at 341 degrees. At 0201, dispatch received a transmission that the helicopter was going down. Law enforcement personnel interviewed a witness who was in a car on nearby Highway 395. The witness observed the helicopter flying straight and level; it then descended vertically at a rapid rate. The witness lost sight of it behind terrain, and then observed a fireball. The witness drove on a dirt road, and found the wreckage, which was approximately 1/4 mile west of Highway 395. The company reported that the pilo
Probable cause
The pilot became spatially disoriented while maneuvering on a dark night, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control.
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- Sikorsky S-61N, Aug 6, 2008
Browse: California · Aerospatiale 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.
