Bell 206B N90296

Summary

On 9 August 1989 at about 18:15 local time, a Bell 206B registered N90296 was involved in an accident near Bakersfield, California, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 August 1989 at 18:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Bakersfield, California, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N90296

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Van Nuys → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX89LA270

2 people were seriously injured.

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE HELICOPTER BEING FLOWN IN EXHAUST GASES EMANATING FROM A COGENERATION PLANT CHIMNEY STACK THAT EXCEEDED THE CERTIFICATION STANDARDS OF THE POWERPLANT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INVISIBLE NATURE OF THE EXHAUST GASES WHICH MADE THE DETECTION OF THEIR PRESENCE UNLIKELY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HELICOPTER CREW WAS FILMING A COGENERATION PLANT. THE HELICOPTER ORBITED THE PLANT THREE TIMES. DURING THE THIRD ORBIT, THE HELICOPTER PASSED OVER THE EXHAUST CHIMNEY OF THE PLANT WHICH WAS OPERATING AT THE TIME. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE INDICATION THAT EXHAUST GASES WERE EMANATING FROM THE CHIMNEY. THE GASES WERE REPORTED TO BE 350 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WITH A 3.6 PERCENT OXYGEN CONTENT. THE HELICOPTER TURBOSHAFT ENGINE LOST POWER OVER THE CENTER OF THE CHIMNEY. THE PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION TOWARDS AN OPEN AREA OF A PARKING LOT. DURING THE FLARE, THE HELICOPTER STRUCK A VEHICLE, AND LANDED HARD, SEVERED THE TAILBOOM, AND ROLLED ON TO ITS SIDE. THE CERTIFICATION STANDARD FOR THE ENGINE WAS 120 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.