# Accident 20150816022059A: Bell 412, Montebello, CA, August 16, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 16, 2015, 17:15 local time
- Place: Montebello, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.0056° N, 118.0511° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0056&lon=-118.0511&mi=10
- Aircraft: N412LA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N412LA-2018-02-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 412 (registry code 1182202, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-412) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3 series (registry code 52103, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6t-3-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 412
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6T-3B
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 16,300 total, 590 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA15CA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA230) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150816022059A

## Narrative

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

THIS TRANSPORT CATEGORY HELICOPTER WAS DISPATCHED AS THE COMMAND SHIP FOR THE "MONTIBELLO HILLS FIRE" ON SUNDAY 08/16/2015. IT WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER PART 91 RULES AS A "PUBLIC USE AIRCRAFT" BY THE L.A. COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.

IT DEPARTED BARTON HELIPORT IN PACOMIA, CALIFORNIA AT APPROXIMATELY 1445, ACCORDING TO L.A. COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS RECORDS WITH THREE PERSONS ON-BOARD. THE PIC AND TWO FIRE BATTALION CHIEF'S.

AT APPROXIMATELY 17:15 HOURS ACCORDING TO SKYTRAC THE AIRCRAFT WENT OFF THE GRID, THE ACCIDENT OCCURRING AT 2+23 HOURS TOTAL TIME INTO THE FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN LOW-LEVEL, LOW SPEED MANUVERING DURING THE FLIGHT AND WAS IN AN AREA THAT HAS NUMEROUS WIRE HAZARDS THAT EXTEND TO APPROXIMATELY 150 TO 200 FEET ABOVE THE TERRAIN.

FROM THE DESRIPTION OF FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS AND THE PILOT'S STATEMENT'S THE AIRCRAFT WAS ALLOWED TO RUN OUT OF FUEL.

THE PILOT EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION TO THE ROSE HILL CEMETERY IN MONTEBELLO [EAST OF THE 605 SAN GABRIEL FRWY AND SOUTH OF THE 60 FRWY] FROM APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET AGL. THE PIC INDICATES THAT HE DOESN'T BELIEVE THERE ARE ADDITIONAL POSSIBILITIES INVOLVED WITH THE ACCIDENT CAUSE. BETWEEN THE OPERATIONS FIRE CHIEF'S, THE DOM AND THE PILOT STATEMENTS IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, FUEL EXHAUSTION IS THE PCOF.

THE DOM AT THE MAINTENANCE BASE WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY MEASURE 2.5 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE RIGHT FUEL CELL & .5 GAL. OR LESS REMAINING IN THE LEFT FUEL CELL AFTER  THE A/C HAD BEEN RECOVERED.

THIS A/C ACCORDING TO THE DOM DEPARTED BARTON HELICOPTER BASE WITH APPROXIMATELY 211.5 GALLONS OF FUEL (1438 LBS) ON BOARD. THE PILOT VERIFIED THAT IN HIS STATEMENT ALSO.

A RETIRED CHIEF [CONTRACTOR] IN THE JUMP SEAT SUFFERED A MINOR BACK INJURY IN THE AUTOROTATION AND WAS GROUND EVACED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL - HE RETURNED TO DUTY THE FOLLOWING WEEK.

## 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 GAA15CA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA230), Aug 17, 2015: Bell 412 (N412LA), Whittier, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to appropriately monitor the helicopter's fuel supply, resulting in fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and an autorotation with a hard landing.

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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