19850412014989A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell 206B · Lake Berryessa, CA · April 12, 1985

Date: April 12, 1985 · 13:00 local
Place: Lake Berryessa, CA
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N2925W
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX85LA200
Reported as: Bell 206B
Reported engine: Allison 250C20
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 8,800 total580 in this make and model190 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

While crossing a ridge on a low level eagle survey, struck powerlines. Tail rotor sheared. Impacted mountainside.

As the FAA filed it

WHILE CROSSING A RIDGE ON A LOW LEVEL EAGLE SURVEY, STRUCK POWERLINES. TAIL ROTOR SHEARED. IMPACTED MOUNTAINSIDE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX85LA200Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLake Berryessa, CAThe acft was on a low level, eagle survey mission. While cruising between 20 & 30 mph, the plt flew up a canyon & was crossing a ridge at about 150 ft AGL when he saw wires ahead. He took evasive action, but the helicopter struck the wires. The tail rotor &…Apr 12, 1985 · Substantial damage