Bell 206L-3 N911VC
30 June 1993 · Agoura Hills, California, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 30 June 1993 at about 17:35 local time, a Bell 206L-3 registered N911VC was involved in an accident near Agoura Hills, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:35
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Agoura Hills, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 34.1204, -118.7595
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-3
- Registration
- N911VC
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Public Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Camarillo → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Dawn
- NTSB number
- LAX93GA270
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Probable cause
The improper configuration of the aerial ignition device by the crew chief and an inadvertent activation of the unit by the pilot. The improper installation and configuration of the unit by maintenance personnel, inadequate crew coordination, and insufficient aviation unit operational standards were factors in this accident.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
A PUBLIC USE HELICOPTER WAS ENGAGED IN DISPENSING SMALL PLASTIC BALLS FROM AN AERIAL IGNITION DEVICE TO ASSIST FIRE UNITS IN A CONTROLLED BURN OF ABOUT 500 ACRES OF GRASSLAND. THE PLASTIC BALLS CONTAINING POSSAIUM PERMANGANATE, PRODUCED FLAME IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS AFTER BEING INJECTED WITH ETHYLENE GLYCOL. THE ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE UNIT WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED SO AS TO BE CONTROLLED BY THE PILOT, INSTEAD OF BEING CONTROLLED BY THE CREW CHIEF. WHILE SITTING ON A HILL TOP WITH THE ROTORS TURNING AT FLIGHT IDLE, THE CREW CHIEF CONFIGURED THE UNIT FOR THE NEXT FLIGHT WITHOUT INFORMING THE PILOT THAT ANY ACTIVATION OF THE POWER SWITCH WOULD BEGIN DISPENSING OF THE BALLS. A FIRE BEGAN UNDER THE HELICOPTER AND SPREAD INTO THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR BURNS AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY THE GRASS FIRE. THE AVIATION UNIT DOES NOT HAVE A FORMAL TRAINING SYLLABUS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE AERIAL IGNITION DEVICE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 206 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Feb 1993 | Bell 206L-1 | Vermillion 39 | Petroleum Helicopters | Minor injuries | - |
| 25 Oct 1993 | Bell 206B | High Island 467 | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 29 Oct 1993 | Bell 206B | W. Cameron 240 | Seahawk Services, Ltd. | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 Oct 1993 | Bell 206L-3 | Gulf of Mexico | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1993 | Bell 206B | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States | Jonhnson, James P. | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Dec 1993 | Bell 206B-III | Flagstaff, Arizona, United States | Warren Smith | No injuries | - |
All 1,732 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Jul 1993 | Cessna 310H | Lancaster, California, United States | Yehiem Konski | Fatal | 6 |
| 14 Nov 1993 | Cessna 182 | Colusa, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jan 1993 | Cessna 172P | Sun City, California, United States | Hiser Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 31 Jul 1993 | Robinson R44 | El Monte, California, United States | Benjamin F. Venti, SR. | Fatal | 3 |
| 17 Nov 1993 | Piper PA-38-112 | Fresno, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jan 1993 | Beechcraft A35 | Tulare, California, United States | Rent and Lease Programs | Fatal | 2 |