Bell 206A N1434W

Summary

On 31 March 1985 at about 20:32 local time, a Bell 206A registered N1434W, operated by Blue Bird Express Helicopters, was involved in an accident near San Diego, California, United States. 5 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

31 March 1985 at 20:32

Classification

Accident

Location

San Diego, California, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 206A

Registration

N1434W

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Blue Bird Express Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Diego → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX85LA194

1 person was seriously injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING FLT, THE ENG LOST POWER & THE PLT BEGAN AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING IN A PARKING LOT. DURING THE APCH, HE MANEUVERED TO AVOID A 100 FT CRANE. AS THE HELICOPTER WAS APPROACHING THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN POINT, A VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN INTO THE FLT PATH OF THE ACFT. TO AVOID THE VEHICLE, THE PLT INCREASED THE COLLECTIVE TO EXTEND THE GLIDE PATH. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER LOST ROTOR RPM BEFORE TOUCHDOWN & LANDED HARD. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT AN IMPROPER PART (AN OIL LINE) HAD BEEN SUBSTITUTED FOR THE 'COMPRESSOR TO FUEL CONTROL PRESSURE SENSING' LINE (PN 6848471). THE LINE HAD FRACTURED AT A B-NUT WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF POWER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.