# NTSB GAA15CA230: Bell 412, N412LA, Whittier, CA, August 17, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 16, 2015, 19:11 local (Aug 17, 2015, 02:11 UTC) - Place: Whittier, CA - Coordinates: 34.005554, -118.051109 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0056&lon=-118.0511&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91824 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA230 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91824/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91824 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA230 ## 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. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 412, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=1182202), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 412, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1182202), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 412, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1182202), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 412, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=1182202), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Pressures/demands](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03042000): Environmental issues › Task environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Bell 412, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03042000/cases.md?model=1182202), [All aircraft, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03042000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 412, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1182202), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Bell 412, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1182202), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Bell 412, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1182202), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot of the public use, multi-engine helicopter, he performed an autorotation and landing after exhausting the helicopter's fuel supply in flight. The pilot reported that while acting as the Helicopter Commander during a brush fire containment mission, the complexities involved with managing the fire increased and as a result, the pilot stated, "I failed to re-adjust my station time appropriately for my aircraft." He reported that both engines lost power and he executed an autorotation and touchdown onto down sloping terrain. Upon impact with the ground, the main rotor blades flexed down and severed the tail boom. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom, the main rotor and tail rotor blades, the main rotor drive system and the primary flight controls. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to flight that would have prevented normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot of the public use, multi-engine helicopter, he performed an autorotation and landing after exhausting the helicopter's fuel supply in flight. The pilot reported that while acting as the Helicopter Commander during a brush fire containment mission, the complexities involved with managing the fire increased and as a result, the pilot stated, "I failed to re-adjust my station time appropriately for my aircraft." He reported that both engines lost power and he executed an autorotation and touchdown onto down sloping terrain. Upon impact with the ground, the main rotor blades flexed down and severed the tail boom. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom, the main rotor and tail rotor blades, the main rotor drive system and the primary flight controls. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to flight that would have prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N412LA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N412LA-2018-02-28), registration cancelled 2018-02-28, S/N 33061, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 412 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Bell 412](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-412) (registry code 1182202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6t-3-series) (registry code 52103, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 33061 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 8918 - Engines: P&W CANADA PT6T-3BE 800 horsepower turbo shaft; P&W CANADA PT6T-3BE 800 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Firefighting, Public use - Operator: County Of Los Angeles Fire Department - Registered owner: County Of Los Angeles Fire Department - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 22, 2015 - Departed: WHP, Pacoima, CA - Destination: Whittier, CA - Equipment: Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; flight engineer, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 9, 2015; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 16,300 total, 600 in this make and model, 1,600 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 23.3 in the last 30 days, 2.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: EMT, 6 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20150816022059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150816022059A), Aug 16, 2015: Bell 412, Montebello, CA, Destroyed. 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… ## Other investigations on N412LA (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 LAX93T#A02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93T%23A02), Mar 31, 1993: Bell 412 (N412LA), Topanga, CA, no damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91824. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433109&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 412 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433110&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.