Bell 206 accident near Delano, CA
On January 2, 2013, a Bell 206 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Delano, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 2, 2013
- Place
- Delano, CA
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.727°N, 119.162°W
- NTSB ID
- 20130102X13158
Official records · WPR13FA080
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn January 2, 2013, about 0615 Pacific standard time (PST), a Bell 206 helicopter, N828AC, was destroyed when it impacted terrain in a vineyard while maneuvering about 10 miles southeast of the Delano Municipal Airport (DLO), Delano, California. The helicopter was registered to Maricopa Helicopter, LLC, Fresno, California, and operated by San Joaquin Helicopters under provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the helicopter was fatally injured. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from DLO about 0420 to perform frost protection. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) interviewed the pilot of a second helicopter, which was following the accident helicopter on the return flight to DLO. The pilot stated that they were both returning to DLO due to accumulating fog over the field they were working. The pilot stated that during the return flight, he saw the accident helicopter ahead of his position make a right turn and asked the accident pilot if she were lost. The accident pilot responded that she thought she was. The second pilot then gave her directions to turn left in the direction of DLO. The second pilot stated that he diverted his attention to reestablish visual contact with distant lights to his left, and subsequently observed an orange glow within the fog layer ahead of his position. He also stated that on the return flight the accident helicopter's working spotlights were on prior
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control due to spatial disorientation while maneuvering in low visibility, dark night conditions.
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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.
