Mcdonnell Douglas 500N accident near Newport Beach, CA

On February 20, 2022, a Mcdonnell Douglas 500N (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Newport Beach, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.

Date

February 20, 2022

Place

Newport Beach, CA

Aircraft

Mcdonnell Douglas 500N · Helicopter

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 1 minor

Damage

Substantial

Position

33.610°N, 117.924°W

NTSB ID

20220220104671

Official records · WPR22FA101

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• Audio - Green One Channel: Recording (ZIP), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn February 19, 2022, about 1834 Pacific standard time, a McDonnell Douglas Helicopter 500N (520N), N521HB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Newport Beach, California. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the TFO was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a public aircraft flight by the Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD). The helicopter departed its home base, Huntington Beach Police Department Heliport (CL65), at 1800, and for the next 30 minutes flew a routine patrol along the coast of Huntington Beach, inland to Costa Mesa, and then south to Newport Beach. The pilot reported that as they were about to depart the Newport Beach area, they received a transmission over the primary police radio channel that there was a fight taking place just south of their location. The pilot stated that he redirected the helicopter toward the area and began a right orbit between 500-600 ft above ground level (agl) while the TFO (who was seated in the right seat) turned on the infrared camera and began searching the ground. The TFO spotted a group fighting, and the pilot began to maneuver the helicopter in a tighter orbit while the TFO relayed his observations over the police radio channel. Ground patrol officers arrived on the scene, and the pilot continued the orbits about 500 ft above ground level, while simultaneously viewing the activity through his monitor, and maneuvering the helicopter so the TFO could continue to observe the altercation. The pilot stated that he watched as ground patrol officers got out of their car

Probable cause

The helicopter’s encounter with unanticipated right yaw during a low-altitude, low-airspeed, tight-radius orbit. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distraction during the orbit, which resulted in the loss of control, his fatigue due to his early wake time and time since awakening, and the lack of external cues that hindered his ability to perform a recovery.

More accidents in CA

• Douglas MD-83, Feb 1, 2000
• Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, Aug 31, 1986
• British Aerospace BAE-146-200, Dec 8, 1987
• Beech C-99, Aug 24, 1984
• Sikorsky S-61N, Aug 6, 2008

Browse: California · Mcdonnell Douglas aircraft

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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.