ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 134932
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| Date: | Monday 26 July 2004 |
| Time: | 14:21 |
| Type: |  Bell 206B-3 JetRanger III |
| Owner/operator: | Aris Helicopter, Ltd. |
| Registration: | N549W |
| MSN: | 2604 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1979 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 9641 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison 250-C20B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Little Valley, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | |
| Departure airport: | Fall RiverMills, CA (O89) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The helicopter collided with trees and terrain while the pilot maneuvered at a low altitude, under high density altitude conditions, and over rising mountainous terrain. The purpose of the aerial survey flight was to provide a California Department of Forestry passenger with an aerial mapping opportunity around active fire areas in the Lassen National Park. The pilot indicated that his specific mission on the flight was to maneuver the helicopter over a route that would provide the front seat passenger an opportunity to accurately mark global positioning satellite (GPS) waypoints around the fire area. Initially, the pilot flew at 6,500 feet mean sea level (msl), but when the passenger started marking waypoints, the pilot descended to 5,500 feet msl. The pilot further indicated that during the flight he made several turns. Just prior to the crash, he flew in a southerly, and then a northerly direction. When he next turned, to an east-southeasterly direction, he raised the collective, observed his proximity to the fire line, and directed his attention to a hill that he was approaching. The pilot indicated that he had expected to be higher than the top of the hill, but he was lower. At this time, despite his efforts to increase altitude, the helicopter impacted trees and terrain. According to ground-based witnesses, the helicopter had been maneuvering between 50 and 75 feet above ground level, in a downwind direction, over 5,100-foot mean sea level upsloping terrain, toward the crest of the mountain. The surface wind was from the north-northeast, about 10 knots. The temperature was almost 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The witnesses further reported that the helicopter's engine was operating until it impacted trees, about 20 feet beneath the mountain crest.
Probable Cause: the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate clearance from objects and terrain while maneuvering at low altitude. Factors in the accident were the high, rising terrain, and the high density altitude.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20040729X01107&key=1
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 21-Dec-2016 19:26 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 07-Dec-2017 18:13 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 14-Mar-2021 16:40 | TB | Updated [Aircraft type, Nature] |
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