Status:	Final
Date:	22 AUG 1990
Time:	10:20
Type:	de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 100
Operator:	?
Registration:	N203E
C/n / msn:	53
First flight:	1967-06-14 (23 years 3 months)
Engines:	2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20
Crew:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Passengers:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Airplane damage:	Substantial
Airplane fate:	Repaired
Location:	California City, CA (United States of America)
Phase:	En route (ENR)
Nature:	Photo/air-to-air
Departure airport:	?
Destination airport:	?

Narrative:
The Twin Otter and a Bell 206B helicopter (N250CA) were involved in a movie operation. The Bell carried a camerman. The DHC-6 carried parachutists. The purpose of the operation was to photograph the parachutists exiting the jump aircraft. The pilot of N250CA said he was in formation with the Twin Otter and was maneuvering into camera position when the rotor blades contacted the vertical stabilizer and rudder of N203E. The pilot of N203E was not in a position to have visual contact with the helicopter.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The failure of the helicopter pilot to maintain adequate clearance from the jump aircraft. A factor in the accident was the inability of the jump aircraft pilot to maintain visual contact with the helicopter."

Events:

Sources: