# Accident 20110313005459A: Sikorsky S-58ET, El Segundo, CA, March 13, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 13, 2011, 09:31 local time
- Place: El Segundo, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: CAXL
- Location: 33.9122° N, 118.3894° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9122&lon=-118.3894&mi=10
- Aircraft: N33602, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33602-2013-04-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sikorsky S-58ET (registry code 8141803, https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-58et) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6 series (registry code 52033, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY S-58ET
- Reported engine: P&W PT6 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 7,412 total, 2,825 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR11FA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA163) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110313005459A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 13, 2011, AT APPROXIMATELY 09:31, A SIKORSKY S-58 HELICOPTER, N33602, OWNED BY HELI FLITE, INC. AND OPERATED BY ARIS HELICOPTERS, A 14CFR133 OPERATOR (CAXL) BASED AT THE RIVERSIDE AIRPORT, RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, CRASHED WHILE LIFTING AN AIR PURIFICATION UNIT FROM THE THIRD STORY ROOF OF A BUILDING OWNED BY RAYTHEON CORP. LOCATED AT 2000 EL SEGUNDO BLVD., EL SEGUNDO CA.  ARIS HELICOPTERS WAS PERFORMING THIS OPERATION AS APPROVED BY THE FAA LOS ANGELES FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE ON A CONGESTED AREA PLAN (LIFT PLAN). ARIS GROUND CREW PERSONNEL WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT AND STATED THAT THE HELICOPTER LIFTED THE LOAD (4,000-4,500 LBS.) APPROXIMATELY TWO FEET ABOVE THE ROOF'S SURFACE VIA A LONG LINE ATTACHED TO THE HELICOPTER'S CARGO HOOK.  AS THEY HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A REDUCTION IN POWER FROM AT LEAST ONE OF THE TWO ENGINES, THE LOAD SETTLED BACK ONTO THE ROOF'S SURFACE.  THE GROUND CREW FURTHER STATED THAT THE PILOT SAID (VIA FM RADIO) HE WAS RELEASING THE LOAD, BUT IT APPEARS THE LOAD DID NOT RELEASE.  THE HELICOPTER PROCEEDED EASTBOUND TOWARDS THE PARKING LOT THAT WAS DESIGNATED AS THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.  WHEN THE HELICOPTER REACHED THE END OF  THE LONG LINE, WHICH WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE LOAD, IT PITCHED NOSE DOWN, STRIKING THE ROOF OF THE BUILDING.  THE HELICOPTER THEN WENT OVER THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING, THROUGH A TREE AND CAME TO REST NEXT TO THE BUILDING AT GROUND LEVEL.INITIALLY, A SMALL FIRE ERUPTED. THE UNCONSCIOUS PILOT WAS REMOVED FROM THE BURNING HELICOPTER BY ARIS GROUND CREW PERSONNEL JUST PRIOR TO THE HELICOPTER BEING ENGULFED IN FLAMES.  THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED EXCEPT FOR THE NOSE/ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA AND THE VERTICAL FIN.  SEVERAL OFFICES AND THE OUTER BUILDING STRUCTURE WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED BY FIRE AND WATER.  THE LONE OCCUPANT, THE PILOT, WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND REPORTED IN SERIOUS CONDITION.

## 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 WPR11FA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA163), Mar 13, 2011: Sikorsky S-58ET (N33602), El Segundo, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power and the failure of the external hook to release the load for undetermined reasons.

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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