# Accident 20091114051399A: Aerospatial AS350BA, Doyle, CA, November 14, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 14, 2009, 02:01 local time
- Place: Doyle, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: ML6A
- Location: 39.8514° N, 120.3500° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8514&lon=-120.3500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5793P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5793P-2013-07-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerospatiale AS350BA (registry code 8680817, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350ba) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Honeywell LTS101-600A3A (registry code 33819, https://openairdocs.org/engine/honeywell-lts101-600a3a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIAL AS350BA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING LTS 101-600A-3A
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 6,003 total, 4,763 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10FA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA055) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091114051399A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON NOVEMBER 14, 1009, AT APPROXIMATELY 0200 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME (MST) (0900Z), N5793P, AN AEROSPATIALE AS350BA, OWNED AND OPERATED BY MOUNTAIN LIFEFLIGHT, INC., CRASHED NEAR DOYLE, CALIFORNIA, APPROXIMATELY 27 MILES NORTHWEST OF RENO, NEVADA.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT FORCES AND POST CRASH FIRE.  ON BOARD WERE THE PILOT, A FLIGHT NURSE, AND A PARAMEDIC; ALL RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.  THERE WERE NO GROUND INJURIES AND NO GROUND DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.  WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH WAS VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS BELOW A BROKEN CLOUD DECK AT APPROXIMATELY 10,000 FEET MSL, WITH THE MOON NOT YET ABOVE THE HORIZON.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR10FA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA055), Nov 14, 2009: Aerospatiale AS350BA (N5793P), Doyle, CA, substantial damage, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot became spatially disoriented while maneuvering on a dark night, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control.

## Other reports on N5793P (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20080519835729I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080519835729I), May 19, 2008: Snias AS350BA (N5793P), Reno, NV, Minor damage. (-23) During an hems flight, the pilot experienced an underspeed nr main rotor condition and performed a precautionary landing next to a highway.
- [Incident 20061222027379I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061222027379I), Dec 22, 2006: Snias AS350BA (N5793P), Reno, NV, Minor damage. (-23) During a cruise flight at approximately 6800 MSL, the pilot heard a loud bang from the engine, followed by a loss of power, left yaw, chip, and low oil…
- [Accident 19890222002389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890222002389A), Feb 22, 1989: Snias AS350D (N5793P), Spring Valley, NY, Destroyed. Autorotation to power recovery. No power. Impacted. Rolled over. Dne and pilot skill were factors.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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