# Accident 20200720011699A: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 600N, San Andreas, CA, July 20, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 20, 2020, 10:00 local time
- Place: San Andreas, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: BV0L
- Location: 38.2063° N, 120.7136° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2063&lon=-120.7136&mi=10
- Aircraft: N745BW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N745BW-2022-06-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 600N (registry code 3027377, https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-helicopter-600n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C47 series (registry code 03029, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c47-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER 600N
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C47
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,500 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR20LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA228) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200720011699A

## Narrative

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

HELICOPTER HOVERING OVER CHECKING A TRANSMISSION WIRE ? PILOT IN LEFT SEAT AND LINEMAN IN RIGHT AND REAR AIRSPEED 15 MPH 250 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. FIRE NOTICED IN CABIN. PROCEED TO A CLEARING TO LAND. AT 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AIRCRAFT LOST POWER WAS ON  FIRE FELL 100 FT AND CRASHED. THE HELICOPTER WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. ADDITIONAL REPORT IS THAT THE FIRE STARTED BELOW PILOT SEAT AND DURING DESCENT A LOUD POP WAS HEARD POSSIBLY COMING FROM THE MAIN ROTOR. THE PILOT'S RECORDS AND MAINTENANCE RECORDS WERE INSPECTED. NO ANOMALIES NOTED AT THIS TIME.  SDR BV0A20200727001 SUBMITTED. CAUSE OF ACCIDENT PENDING NTSB INVESTIGATION....

## 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 WPR20LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA228), Jul 20, 2020: Md Helicopter 600 (N745BW), San Andreas, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: The failure of the output shaft of the overrunning clutch inner race due to frictional overheating of the shaft, which resulted from the failure of the output bearing’s stainless-steel grease seal.

## Other reports on N745BW (1)

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

- [Accident 20160215001699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160215001699A), Feb 15, 2016: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 600N (N745BW), Ashland, OR, No damage. The pilot noticed an abnormal vibration in the aircraft. On landing an examination of the main rotor blade revealed a 4.5 inch crack measured from the trailing…

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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