Bell/Tsirah 209AH-1FT N777TZ

Summary

On 20 August 1996 at about 23:24 local time, a Bell/Tsirah 209AH-1FT registered N777TZ, operated by West Coast Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Palmdale, California, United States. 3 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 August 1996 at 23:24

Classification

Accident

Location

Palmdale, California, United States

Coordinates

34.5209, -118.0796

Aircraft

Bell/Tsirah 209AH-1FT

Registration

N777TZ

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

West Coast Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX96FA310

1 person died.

the first pilot misjudged the distance from the rock outcropping. The pilot's ostentatious display was a factor in this accident.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The civilian restored U.S. Army Cobra attack helicopter was filming a commercial. Production personnel reported the helicopter made three flights over the area; a nonfilmed overview flight and two filmed flights. The filming director said that the helicopter was to fly between and over two rock outcroppings and chase a ground vehicle. On the first flight the helicopter hovered south of the western rock outcropping and then flew over it in a northerly direction descending toward the ground vehicle. On this initial flight, the timing between the helicopter and the ground vehicle was inadequate due to blowing sand. The director then instructed the helicopter pilot to hover further south of the rock outcroppings and for the ground vehicle driver to begin his sequence earlier. On the second flight, the helicopter flew in a northeasterly direction at a lower altitude when the pilot made a slight left turn. During the turn, the helicopter's main rotor blades struck the rock outcropping located to the left side and immediately began to separate. The rotor blades decelerated and the helicopter struck the ground in a nose-up level attitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.